Phyllis Jean Donnelly Gillespie

Phyllis Jean Donnelly Gillespie, 82, died March 20, 2014 in Pampa. Services will be at 2:00 PM Saturday, March 22, 2014 at Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel, with Rev. Jim Yates, Interim Hospice chaplain, officiating. Graveside services will be at 2:00 PM Tuesday, March 25, 2015 at Gettis Cemetery in Clayton, Kansas, with Rev. Ed Woods, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Oberlin, Kansas, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Gillespie was born April 3, 1931 in Densmore, Kansas, and was a 1948 graduate of Densmore High School. She married Elton Gillespie on February 24, 1949 in Beaver City, Nebraska and they made their home on a farm near Clayton, Kansas for over 55 years. He preceded her in death on July 2, 2004. Jean was a fiercely independent woman and continued to live on the farm until 2013 when she moved to Pampa to live with her daughter, Jeanne. Jean loved to quilt, making numerous quilts for her family and friends. She enjoyed trapshooting and hunting with her husband and friends. Being a true farmer, she also gardened extensively, loving the smell of the soil, working the soil and raising garden crops. Jean enjoyed canning garden produce with her friends. She also enjoyed the occasional trip to the casinos, beating her grandsons at checkers and playing bingo with her friends at the Pampa Nursing Center. She was a member of the Pampa Senior Citizens Center. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Cal and Ruth Donnelly; and four brothers, Donald, Leon, Leonard and Junior. Survivors include her daughters, Jeanne Townson of Pampa, and Peggy Carlton and husband Bruce of Bakersfield, California; her son, Elly Gillespie of Jennings, Kansas; three grandsons, Jimmy Townson and wife Misty, and Michael Townson and wife Aimee, all of Pampa, and Jason Carlton and wife Millete of Huachuca City, Arizona; three granddaughters, Courtney Gillespie of Jennings, Kansas, Kaitlyn Gillespie of Kansas City, Kansas, and Cassidy Gillespie of Oberlin, Kansas; three great-grandsons, three great-granddaughters; her brother, Ron Donnelly and wife Judy of Cloverdale, California; 3 sisters-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her extended Texas family, Bill Riley; his daughters, Stacy Phillips and family and Misty Hood and husband Steve and family, who lovingly embraced her as “Grandma.” She also leaves her faithful furry companion “Spike,” and her special Kansas friends, Bill and Charlotte Nelson, Alice Mizer, Iris Smith, Rose and Lloyd Ramsey, Leo and Carrie Zodrow and Leonard and Carol Sewell. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Genesis Clinic, Interim Hospice, and Pampa Nursing Center staff for the care, consideration and love given to Jean. Memorials may be made to Interim Hospice, 2217 Perryton Pkwy., Pampa, Texas 79065