Beulah Mae Gillespie, 94, passed away Sunday, October 11, 2020 at Gove County Long Term Care in Quinter, Kansas. She was born June 28th, 1926 in Orion, Kansas to Joseph Maddox and Myrtle Kreigh Maddox at the family farm.
Beulah graduated from Oakley High School in 1944. She then attended Fort Hays State University where she received her teaching certificate. She taught school at several different one room country schools in Gove County until she married William Dean Gillespie in January of 1951. To this union 7 children were born-Kim, Terry, Lyle, Kyle, Diane, Gail, and Mark Gillespie.
As a devoted farm wife and mother, she spent her life on the family farm. Beulah was very active in the Grainfield United Methodist Church all of her life. She was a member of the Grinnell Women’s VFW Auxiliary and Big Creek EHU. She was also a member of Eastern Star for many years. Beulah enjoyed cooking, gardening, and when she was able, she enjoyed traveling. Over the years, she had multiple hip replacements on the same hip that never seemed to keep her down, and gave Beulah her signature limp. Beulah’s long life enabled her to witness some of the most important events of the 20th century including the great depression and WWII. These events shaped her worldview and gave her a deep appreciation of the really important things in life.
She is survived by her sister, Lois Campbell; youngest son, Mark; daughter-in-law, Gloria Gillespie; grandsons Kevin and wife Melissa, and Corey and wife Alicia; step-grandsons, Jimmy Griffin and Matthew Stranghoner; and 3 great-grandsons, Parker, Canaan, Maxx, and soon to be Payton Gillespie.
She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Myrtle Maddox; brothers Raymond, Harold, Donald, and Clyde; and her children Kim, Terry, Kyle, Lyle, Diane, and Gail.
Memorial Service will 10:00 a.m. at Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter, Kansas, Friday, October 16, 2020. Burial will be in the Grainfield Cemetery.
There will be no visitation as cremation was chosen.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Beulah Gillespie Memorial Fund. Donations to the fund may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS 67752.