Insights & Stories
Expert guidance on monuments, memorials, and preserving memories
Custom Headstones in Wylie, TX — Honoring North Texas Families Since 1936
Looking for custom headstones in Wylie, TX? Gifford Monument Works has served North Texas and Oklahoma families since 1936. Custom granite monuments, flat markers, veteran memorials, and more.
What Does a Headstone Actually Cost in Oklahoma?
Wondering what a headstone actually costs in Oklahoma? Gifford Monument Works breaks down real price ranges for flat markers, slant markers, and upright monuments — with no runaround. Serving Ada, Oklahoma and the Dallas/DFW area.
Ada, Oklahoma's Oldest Family Businesses: Still Going Strong After Generations
Ada, Oklahoma has a quiet tradition of family businesses that have served the community for decades — some for nearly a century. Here's a look at what keeps multigenerational businesses alive in a small Oklahoma city, and what it means to be part of that tradition.
How to Photograph and Document Cemetery Inscriptions: A Field Guide
Documenting headstone inscriptions preserves family history for future generations. This guide covers photography techniques, transcription best practices, submitting records to FindAGrave and BillionGraves, and how to handle weathered or illegible stones.
VA Headstone Benefits for Oklahoma Veterans: What Families Need to Know
The VA provides free headstones, markers, and medallions for eligible veterans buried in private cemeteries. Here's exactly how the program works, who qualifies, and what Oklahoma families need to do to apply — including how Gifford Monument Works helps with the process.
Monument Craftsmanship & Quality: Why Experience and Detail Matter
Choosing a memorial is not just about selecting a design—it is about trusting the craftsmanship behind it. A monument is expected to endure decades of weather, time, and remembrance.
Value Engineering in Monument Design: How to Get the Most Memorial for Your Budget
Value engineering and the design-build approach are changing how Oklahoma families purchase monuments. Learn how transparent pricing, a locked Not-to-Exceed guarantee, and a collaborative design process can help you honor your loved one without financial surprises.
Honoring Your Pet: Custom Memorial Stones in Oklahoma
Losing a pet is a real and heavy loss. A custom granite pet memorial stone gives families in Oklahoma a lasting, beautiful way to honor their animal companions.
Custom Headstones in Ada, OK — Crafted With Care Since 1936
Looking for custom headstones in Ada, Oklahoma? Gifford Monument Works has served Pontotoc County families since 1936 — with personalized monuments, granite markers, and expert cemetery installation.
Who Owns Your Monument Design? Understanding Copyrights Before You Draw
Choosing a monument for a loved one is deeply personal. What most people don’t realize is that once a monument company turns your idea into a finished drawing, you may no longer own the rights to that design.
Choosing the Right Gravestone: A Guide to Honoring a Life Well-Lived
Selecting a final resting place for a loved one is one of the most profound decisions a family will ever make. This guide will help you understand gravestone types, materials, and the unique Gifford Advantage.
How to Choose a Memorial for Your Loved One: A Calm, Practical Guide
Choosing a memorial is an important decision. It creates a permanent place for remembrance and reflection—a lasting remembrance that represents the life, values, and personality of someone you care about.
Why Personalized Memorials Matter: A Guide to Honoring a Unique Life
A walk through a cemetery is a journey through stories—stories of love, loss, and lives well-lived. At Gifford Monument, we believe every life carries a unique rhythm and legacy that deserves to be remembered.
Memorial Design Process Explained: From Vision to Legacy
When you lose someone dear, how do you capture an entire life on a single piece of stone? At Gifford Monument, we believe memorial planning is more than craftsmanship—it's a collaborative art form.
Monuments Throughout Time - Gifford Monument
When one thinks about headstones and monuments, the thought of granite slabs or upright slab designs may come to mind. This makes sense because this is the…
Cleaning Grave Headstones: Complete Restoration Guide
Cleaning grave headstones is an act of respect and also a careful craft. This guide walks you through safe and effective approaches to restoring grave markers.
Custom Headstones: A Guide for Funeral Planners - Gifford Monument
Choosing a custom headstone is one of the most tangible ways grieving families honor a life. For funeral planners tasked with guiding loved ones through this…
Finding Headstone Prices That Fit Your Budget - Gifford Monument
Planning a tribute to a loved one shouldn’t mean breaking the bank, especially when your goal is both dignity and affordability.
Monument Artwork - Gifford Monument
If you have ever participated in the purchase of a cemetery monument, you will agree with me that the options for artwork can be overwhelming.
Creating A Long-lasting and Durable Monument - Gifford Monument
There are a lot of headstone shapes, sizes, colors, and materials out there. So how do you know which one will keep the longest and withstand the most stress?
Guide For Selecting A Headstone - Gifford Monument
Although selecting a headstone might sound easy, it can be quite difficult. Whether you’re choosing one for yourself or need to pick one for a loved one…
FAQs About Custom Monuments - Gifford Monument
When a loved one has passed away, it can be an overwhelming experience. There are many things to handle and organize, all while you’re in the middle of the…
How to Choose the Best Photo for a Custom Monument - Gifford Monument
There are so many ways to customize modern headstones that help you memorialize a loved one that’s passed on in today’s world. Not only can you use words and…
Cremation Urns: What You Need to Know
Losing a loved one can be hard. Organizing all of the details is very difficult when you’re trying to cope with the loss as well. If your loved one has…
Long-Lasting Flowers for Gravesites - Gifford Monument
Visiting your loved one’s memorial is a very sentimental event. Many people bring fresh flowers to honor their loved ones. Luckily, if you’re looking for…
The Importance of Pre-Purchasing a Headstone - Gifford Monument
Headstone memorials are a significant part of remembering loved ones. When a loved one passes, it can be challenging to decide on memorial details and the best…
Unique Monument Ideas for Couples - Gifford Monument
When your life partner passes away, it can feel like a part of you is missing. Although they are no longer physically with you, you can be sure that you will be…
Benefits of Designing a Monument Online - Gifford Monument
Designing a monument online has so many benefits. With all of the technology available these days, the possibilities are pretty much endless!
Mistakes to Avoid When Pre-Planning a Memorial - Gifford Monument
Pre-planning your memorial is a smart idea, but in the end, many people don’t end up pre-planning their memorial. 61% of people believe it’s an important thing…
The Difference Between Headstones and Grave Markers? - Gifford Monument
When discussing burial monuments, some terms seem similar but have a few very distinctive differences. Grave markers and headstones are one such example.
Traditional Engraving vs. Laser Etching
When you are going through options for a headstone design, the wording and pictures that go on it are just as crucial as the monument itself.
Popular Headstone Colors and What They Mean
When a loved one passes away, their headstone is the place for loved ones to preserve their memory. You have to consider many options like engraving, size…
How to Choose the Right Headstone Inscription - Gifford Monument
Designing a headstone is not an easy process. You are under a lot of pressure and stress, both mentally and emotionally. Choosing the inscription can be the…
Designing a Headstone for Your Loved One
When someone passes, planning a funeral and burial is often the last thing their loved ones want to do. However, a fitting burial and funeral are a critical…
Understanding the Costs of a Custom Monument - Gifford Monument
When a family member passes, one of the added costs is the monument. Headstones and monuments can be pricey, depending on what you are looking for. However…
Planning a Funeral During a Health Crisis - Gifford Monument
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people around the world in countless ways. Everything is on pause, and the way that we do everyday things is changed forever.