Obituary of Charlotte A. Sifford

Charlotte Ann Sifford On Friday, July 24, 2020, Charlotte Ann Sifford, a loving wife and mother, passed away peacefully at the age of 81. Ann, as she was known, was born on December 28, 1938 to Walter and Fannie O’ Donell in the Panama Canal Zone. She lived in the Canal Zone for 12 years, during which time the family would visit Mobile, Alabama by boat, before eventually moving there. She was a member of the Reorganized Latter-Day Saint church. Ann finished school in Mobile, graduating from Murphy High School. After attending college in Lamoni, Iowa, she eventually received a civil service appointment, working at Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio. It was after being transferred to Brookley AFB back in Mobile, that Ann met and married Airman First Class Jim Sifford on July 17, 1959. They eventually had four children: James D Sifford, Jr. at Brookley AFB, AL, in 1960; Kenneth W Sifford at Fort Walton Beach, FL, in 1961; Sharon K. Sifford at Fort Bragg, NC, in 1965; and Brenda F. Sifford at Dover AFB, DE, in 1967. Ann traveled with Jim wherever he was assigned. She adapted well to military life. When Jim was assigned to Howard AFB in the Panama Canal Zone, Ann returned there with the four children. During the four years they were there, she actively participated in base activities, enjoying her children and the numerous friends she made there. In 1972, the family was transferred back to the states, and was stationed at Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs. They settled in the Ellicott/Yoder area where Ann raised her children, made many friends and ran a small general store. Later, Ann became well known for her hand-made crafts. She and Jim traveled throughout Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado, where Ann sold her wares at craft shows. In 2012, Ann was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Jeanne Zaher, her grandson, Kyle Dunbar, and is survived by her husband, her four children, seven grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren.