ROCKLAND — Joy Early Gifford, 78, passed away peacefully with her husband by her side on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

She was born July 16, 1948, in Grenada, Mississippi, the daughter of the late Sidney and Isabel Early. Raised and educated in Tennessee, Joy was a graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport.

Following graduation, she began a successful 12-year career in accounting with Rust Engineering, traveling extensively across the country. She later worked for Canonie Construction at various locations, including Bucksport, Maine, where she met the love of her life, Frank. Joy and Frank were married on September 24, 1988, at their lake house in Oakland, Maine. Joy continued her accounting career with SW+B Construction, where she and Frank worked side by side until her retirement.

Throughout their life together, Joy and Frank traveled extensively for work, residing in and out of Maine while creating cherished memories and forging lifelong friendships wherever they went. Joy possessed a deep love for nature and found great fulfillment in tending to her flower beds and vegetable garden each year—a passion that brought warmth and beauty to neighbors, friends, and passersby. She enjoyed daily walks, dining out, gathering with loved ones, reading, and quietly gazing out at the waters of Rockland Harbor.

Joy was predeceased by her parents, Sidney and Isabel Early.

She is survived by her devoted husband of nearly 38 years, Frank W. Gifford of Rockland; her sister-in-law, Margaret Scholl, and brother-in-law, Ernie Scholl, of New Sharon; her cousin, Ricky Ragans of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Ford Bailey, and Hall Bailey, along with extended cousins in Mississippi; her nieces, Amy Davis of Wilton and Jennifer Scholl of Poway, California; her nephew, Nathan Scholl and his wife Kim Smith, of North Scituate, Rhode Island.

Visiting hours will be held Tuesday, September 1, 2026, from 3 to 5 p.m., at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland. A graveside committal service will be held and announced at a later date.

To share a story or memory with the Gifford family, please visit their Book of Memories at bchfh.com Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street Rockland.