Janie Gifford

Janie Marie Gifford was born to Ross and Marie Duke on May 3rd, 1957 in Clovis, New Mexico. There she grew up alongside her younger brother Ray. Janie excelled as a brownie, band President, head cheerleader for the Clovis High School Wildcats, and was eventually crowned queen of her girls club and also a member of Jobs Daughters. Dedicated to her studies, Janie attended New Mexico State University where she received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a degree in education in 1978. After graduation, Janie moved to Midland, Texas to work as a mud engineer in the oil field, but was quickly promoted into chemical sales where she was relocated to Houston, Texas. Soon after, her desire to help people led her to Cleveland Chiropractic College in Kansas City where she received a Doctorate and met her future husband, Dwight Gifford. Not long after graduation the two moved to Plano, Texas and were soon married. They joined in partnership to open Prime Chiropractic of Plano and with success in their eyes they quickly opened a second practice in The Colony. What they considered to be one of their greatest achievements was the birth of their son, Cameron Dwight Gifford on October 29, 1992. And yes, they were proud parents. Not content with one perfect child, they needed another, so on June 13, 1996 they were given a daughter by the name of Kelsey Marinda Gifford; and yes, she was perfect as well. But no path is ever easy. Tragedy occurred six weeks after the birth of their daughter in 1996 when Dwight was killed in a motorcycle accident. Janie knew raising two small children along with the full time responsibilities of running two chiropractic clinics was going to be a challenge; but if anyone could do it, it was her. Janie once explained "I realized then, as a parent, I had to step up to the plate and do it all and do it the best I possibly could." With God's guidance and the help of her parents, Janie raised Cameron and Kelsey to love the Lord with the same intensity she did. By consolidating the two chiropractic clinics, Janie began to focus on treatments, acupuncture, and natural medicine which ultimately became Meridian Wellness Healing Spa. Her professional career was disrupted in 2006 when she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma cancer and became deathly ill. She went to Little Rock, Arkansas and endured a grueling regiment of chemotherapy and stem cell transplants, which was the leading treatment at the time. Many here today helped her children through this trying time which Janie was eternally thankful. It was a tough battle, but with her faith and impermeable spirit, Janie beat the odds and survived eight more years as the loving and strong mother, daughter, sister, friend, doctor, and role model she was. It was only recently that the cancer returned. Although Janie fought hard, the time came for her to live with peace, joy, and love in the presence of the Lord. Janie is survived by her children Cameron and Kelsey Gifford, father Ross Duke, brother Ray Duke and his wife Jane, niece Sara Duke, cousins "Aunt" LaDean Noakes and her husband Jim, Tanner and Jackson Noakes and many other loving family and friends. The family will receive friends at a visitation Sunday, February 16, 2014 from 3:00 - 5:00 PM at Allen Family Funeral Options. A celebration of Janie's life will be held on Monday, February 17, 2014 at 4:00 PM at Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, Texas. Janie will be laid to rest in Clovis, New Mexico.