Gifford O. Rossier of Ascutney, Vermont passed away on June 1^st at the Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center at the age of 83.
He was born on May 22, 1929, the son of Harvey and Viola (Owen) Rossier, in Sutton.

Gifford graduated from Lyndon Institute in 1947. As a young man, he worked at the former Tap & Die in Lyndonville and as a foreman at Fairbanks Morse Scales in St. Johnsbury.  Gifford’s real passion was a hobby he started at the age of 17. A gunsmith and collector of antique firearms, he operated Giff’s Gun Shop for 20+ years in McIndoe Falls.  Relocating to Ascutney, Gifford continued his gun business right up until his failing health. The long duration of his career earned him high accolades, as he won all types of awards and was continually approached by dealers throughout the northeast and across the nation for insight and appraisals. He was a lifetime member for the NRA, an instructor, on-going member, and past-president of Vermont Field and Stream.

Gifford is survived by his loving wife, Lois (Rodak), a retired nurse from Hoosick Falls, New York. They married in 1987.

Gifford leaves behind his son, Glenn Gifford Rossier, and his wife, Marianne of Greenfield, IN and his daughter, Gail Ann Rossier of St. Johnsbury, VT.  He is also survived by two granddaughters; Erin Marie (Rossier) Jennings and her husband Ben, Lauren Ann (Rossier) Bodkin and her husband Jeff, a great-grandson, Graham Gifford Bodkin, and a “soon-to-be” great-granddaughter, Mia Carmen Bodkin, and his former wife, Carmelita Ward Hutchinson, all of Greenfield, IN. Additionally, is one brother and his wife, Samuel and Dorothy (Larocque) Rossier of Sutton, a sister-in-law, Geneva (Osgood) Rossier of Greer, South Carolina, loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and fellow “gun friends.”

He was predeceased by his parents and one brother, Arthur Rossier of Greer, SC in 2011.

A celebration of Gifford’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6^th at Calvary Baptist Church, 97 Maple Avenue, Claremont, NH. with Reverend Stephen Cook officiating.  Gifford’s grave-side service will take place at 11:00 a. m. on Thursday, June 7^th at the historic Rossier burial ground at Montgomery Center Cemetery in Montgomery Center, VT.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Gifford’s name to Bayada Hospice Vermont at: 316 Main Street, Norwich,VT 05055, the Calvary Baptist Church at 97 Maple Avenue, Claremont, NH, 03743, or the Sutton Freewill Baptist Church, 125 Center St., Sutton, VT 05867.