1920
Delores
2013
Delores Gillespie
December 22, 1920 — May 29, 2013
12/22/1920 ~ 05/29/2013
Delores Givens Gillespie, 92, passed from our lives May 29, 2013 in Bellingham, Washington with family around her. She was born December 22, 1920 in Cherokee, Iowa to George and Irene Givens.
Dee grew up in Lake Chelan and spent much of her childhood on the lake becoming an excellent swimmer and diver. Her education took her to the University of Washington. She soon married the love of her life, Eugene Walter Gillespie, in Seattle in 1940. She and Gene spent their early married years in Leavenworth, Washington where they owned and operated Gillespie’s Department Store. In 1956 they made the decision to move their family of 4 children to Anacortes, Washington where Gene became a stockholder in the Anacortes Veneer Plant. They spent the rest of their years together there until 2005 when Gene died from complications of Alzheimer’s. She then moved her home to Bellingham.
Dee always made the time to volunteer and support her children’s activities, from Girl Scouts to PTA. She worked part time at Fortune’s Bakery and as a bookkeeper in the logging and fishing industries. She enjoyed playing bridge and golf and took great pride in her garden. Dee was a terrific seamstress making wardrobes for her three girls and their dolls. She loved the theatre and shopping, especially for shoes.
In recent years Dee spent her time reading, watching Nascar races and scary movies. She loved having her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren around her. She was a great mom, grama, great-grama, friend and neighbor and will be greatly missed.
Dee was preceded in death by her husband Gene Gillespie.
She is survived by her son, Mike Gillespie (Rae Jean) of Sequim; daughters Marcia Thompson (Gerry) of Anacortes, Sam Vondrachek and Cheri Somody of Bellingham; grandchildren Zachary Thompson (Jill) of Lake Stevens, Samantha Hollenbach (Jeffrey) of Anacortes, Dakota Vondracheck and Madison Vondrachek of Bellingham and great-grandchildren Jack and Max Thompson and Mason Hollenbach.
At her request there will be no services.
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Delores Givens Gillespie, 92, passed from our lives May 29, 2013 in Bellingham, Washington with family around her. She was born December 22, 1920 in Cherokee, Iowa to George and Irene Givens.
Dee grew up in Lake Chelan and spent much of her childhood on the lake becoming an excellent swimmer and diver. Her education took her to the University of Washington. She soon married the love of her life, Eugene Walter Gillespie, in Seattle in 1940. She and Gene spent their early married years in Leavenworth, Washington where they owned and operated Gillespie’s Department Store. In 1956 they made the decision to move their family of 4 children to Anacortes, Washington where Gene became a stockholder in the Anacortes Veneer Plant. They spent the rest of their years together there until 2005 when Gene died from complications of Alzheimer’s. She then moved her home to Bellingham.
Dee always made the time to volunteer and support her children’s activities, from Girl Scouts to PTA. She worked part time at Fortune’s Bakery and as a bookkeeper in the logging and fishing industries. She enjoyed playing bridge and golf and took great pride in her garden. Dee was a terrific seamstress making wardrobes for her three girls and their dolls. She loved the theatre and shopping, especially for shoes.
In recent years Dee spent her time reading, watching Nascar races and scary movies. She loved having her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren around her. She was a great mom, grama, great-grama, friend and neighbor and will be greatly missed.
Dee was preceded in death by her husband Gene Gillespie.
She is survived by her son, Mike Gillespie (Rae Jean) of Sequim; daughters Marcia Thompson (Gerry) of Anacortes, Sam Vondrachek and Cheri Somody of Bellingham; grandchildren Zachary Thompson (Jill) of Lake Stevens, Samantha Hollenbach (Jeffrey) of Anacortes, Dakota Vondracheck and Madison Vondrachek of Bellingham and great-grandchildren Jack and Max Thompson and Mason Hollenbach.
At her request there will be no services.
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