Betty Fern Gillespie

Betty Fern Gillespie, 81 passed away on July 6, 2014 in Lake Jackson, Texas, held by her children and grandchildren. Visitation will be held at 12:30 pm on Saturday July 12, 2014 at Robert D. Loose Funeral Home. Services will be held at 2:30 pm with Reverend Gary Stump officiating. Burial will follow at Maplewood Cemetery in Anderson. Betty was born on December 28, 1932 to Carl and Mary Davis in Ripley County, Indiana. She was the oldest of five children. She attended Shadeland School and Anderson High School. She married John Stephen Gillespie on December 17, 1950. They were married for 23 years and have 5 children that were her pride and joy. With that her circle grew to 15 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren. All of them survive her. Betty was a realtor for many years in Anderson as well as in jewelry sales at JC Penney and Wal-Mart. She was active in the twins club, mothers club, scouting, and the Guidel Choir, as well as many other activities. She attended South Meridian Church of God. She is preceded in death by her Daddy Carl, Mother Mary, Pop Russell, Brother Bobby Davis, and Son In Law Butch Reel. She is survived by her best friend and Sister Florence Gibson, Brothers Leroy and Steve Davis, Twin Daughters Kathy Reel and Karen Carroll (Roger), Sons Mark (Pam), Richard (Bonnie), and David (Samantha) Gillespie. Mom was the daughter of depression area parents that survived by hard work, faith in god, family, and sheer determination. She was taught at a young age that family was the most important thing any one person has. She expanded on this by teaching her children what it was to love by being loved. Family is everything and family doesn’t fight. They live, laugh, and love because life is uncertain. She taught us to work for what you want in life and that no one is entitled. She showed us how to be confident, tender, and compassionate while not having a tolerance for being mistreated or seeing your children mistreated. She had a heartfelt and contagious laugh and made everything an adventure. Everyone in her life had their own room in her heart. She constantly expressed her love and pride to us and it had no bounds. Her grandchildren were her world and she made sure everyone knew it. She was indescribably wonderful and is the foundation our family was built on. All of those fortunate enough to have experienced her love know the weight of our loss. Betty Fern taught us to be thankful to God, for the grass on the ground, the birds and the trees, each other, and each day we’re given. As we go on we are thankful for all of the things she left us. But more than anything we thank God for giving us her. www.loosecares.com.

Betty Fern Gillespie

December 28, 1950 - July 6, 2014