Cornelia "Connie" Messler (Welch) Gillespie
October 17, 1935 ~ November 9, 2020 (age 85)
Cornelia “Connie” Messler Gillespie, 85, of East Jordan and formerly of Burton, died Monday, November 9, 2020, in East Jordan.
She was born on October 17, 1935, in Springfield, Illinois, the daughter of Harold and Helen (Donaldson) Welch. She grew up in Springfield, Illinois, attended Fairfax Finishing School in Virginia, graduated from Springfield High School, received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her Masters of Arts and Reading from Oakland University.
She taught at Linden Public Schools and in Argentine Public Schools.
She met Bruce Gillespie on Waikiki Beach, Hawaii in 1956. They married on June 29, 1957, in Springfield, Illinois. They later made their home in Flint, Michigan.
Connie was a 50 year member of the First Presbyterian Church in Flint and later a member of the First Presbyterian Church in East Jordan. She was a member of the Daughters of the Revolution and Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. She was also past president of the East Flint Lioness Club and was active with her husband in the East Flint Lions Club which included activity with Leader Dogs for the Blind program. She was an EMT for the Davison Area Ambulance Authority (DAAA) and the Goodrich Ambulance Service. She loved dogs and gardening.
Connie is survived by two daughters, Anne (Douglas) Phelps of East Jordan and Marsha (Lee) Bell of Crete, Illinois; two grandsons, Daniel Phelps of East Jordan and Kileean (Meg) Bell of Crete, Illinois; and two great grandsons, Roman Gerfen of Longview, Texas and Ezra Bell of Crete, Illinois; several nieces and nephews; and fifty exchange students who frequented her home from fourteen different countries over the years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bruce Gillespie, on December 9, 2011; her parents; and one granddaughter, Marleea Gerfen.
A private graveside service will be held at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois.
Arrangements by the Penzien Funeral Homes, Inc. in East Jordan, Michigan.
October 17, 1935 ~ November 9, 2020 (age 85)
Cornelia “Connie” Messler Gillespie, 85, of East Jordan and formerly of Burton, died Monday, November 9, 2020, in East Jordan.
She was born on October 17, 1935, in Springfield, Illinois, the daughter of Harold and Helen (Donaldson) Welch. She grew up in Springfield, Illinois, attended Fairfax Finishing School in Virginia, graduated from Springfield High School, received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her Masters of Arts and Reading from Oakland University.
She taught at Linden Public Schools and in Argentine Public Schools.
She met Bruce Gillespie on Waikiki Beach, Hawaii in 1956. They married on June 29, 1957, in Springfield, Illinois. They later made their home in Flint, Michigan.
Connie was a 50 year member of the First Presbyterian Church in Flint and later a member of the First Presbyterian Church in East Jordan. She was a member of the Daughters of the Revolution and Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. She was also past president of the East Flint Lioness Club and was active with her husband in the East Flint Lions Club which included activity with Leader Dogs for the Blind program. She was an EMT for the Davison Area Ambulance Authority (DAAA) and the Goodrich Ambulance Service. She loved dogs and gardening.
Connie is survived by two daughters, Anne (Douglas) Phelps of East Jordan and Marsha (Lee) Bell of Crete, Illinois; two grandsons, Daniel Phelps of East Jordan and Kileean (Meg) Bell of Crete, Illinois; and two great grandsons, Roman Gerfen of Longview, Texas and Ezra Bell of Crete, Illinois; several nieces and nephews; and fifty exchange students who frequented her home from fourteen different countries over the years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bruce Gillespie, on December 9, 2011; her parents; and one granddaughter, Marleea Gerfen.
A private graveside service will be held at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois.
Arrangements by the Penzien Funeral Homes, Inc. in East Jordan, Michigan.
Cornelia "Connie" Messler (Welch) Gillespie
October 17, 1935 ~ November 9, 2020 (age 85)
Cornelia “Connie” Messler Gillespie, 85, of East Jordan and formerly of Burton, died Monday, November 9, 2020, in East Jordan.
She was born on October 17, 1935, in Springfield, Illinois, the daughter of Harold and Helen (Donaldson) Welch. She grew up in Springfield, Illinois, attended Fairfax Finishing School in Virginia, graduated from Springfield High School, received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her Masters of Arts and Reading from Oakland University.
She taught at Linden Public Schools and in Argentine Public Schools.
She met Bruce Gillespie on Waikiki Beach, Hawaii in 1956. They married on June 29, 1957, in Springfield, Illinois. They later made their home in Flint, Michigan.
Connie was a 50 year member of the First Presbyterian Church in Flint and later a member of the First Presbyterian Church in East Jordan. She was a member of the Daughters of the Revolution and Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. She was also past president of the East Flint Lioness Club and was active with her husband in the East Flint Lions Club which included activity with Leader Dogs for the Blind program. She was an EMT for the Davison Area Ambulance Authority (DAAA) and the Goodrich Ambulance Service. She loved dogs and gardening.
Connie is survived by two daughters, Anne (Douglas) Phelps of East Jordan and Marsha (Lee) Bell of Crete, Illinois; two grandsons, Daniel Phelps of East Jordan and Kileean (Meg) Bell of Crete, Illinois; and two great grandsons, Roman Gerfen of Longview, Texas and Ezra Bell of Crete, Illinois; several nieces and nephews; and fifty exchange students who frequented her home from fourteen different countries over the years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bruce Gillespie, on December 9, 2011; her parents; and one granddaughter, Marleea Gerfen.
A private graveside service will be held at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois.
Arrangements by the Penzien Funeral Homes, Inc. in East Jordan, Michigan.
October 17, 1935 ~ November 9, 2020 (age 85)
Cornelia “Connie” Messler Gillespie, 85, of East Jordan and formerly of Burton, died Monday, November 9, 2020, in East Jordan.
She was born on October 17, 1935, in Springfield, Illinois, the daughter of Harold and Helen (Donaldson) Welch. She grew up in Springfield, Illinois, attended Fairfax Finishing School in Virginia, graduated from Springfield High School, received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her Masters of Arts and Reading from Oakland University.
She taught at Linden Public Schools and in Argentine Public Schools.
She met Bruce Gillespie on Waikiki Beach, Hawaii in 1956. They married on June 29, 1957, in Springfield, Illinois. They later made their home in Flint, Michigan.
Connie was a 50 year member of the First Presbyterian Church in Flint and later a member of the First Presbyterian Church in East Jordan. She was a member of the Daughters of the Revolution and Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. She was also past president of the East Flint Lioness Club and was active with her husband in the East Flint Lions Club which included activity with Leader Dogs for the Blind program. She was an EMT for the Davison Area Ambulance Authority (DAAA) and the Goodrich Ambulance Service. She loved dogs and gardening.
Connie is survived by two daughters, Anne (Douglas) Phelps of East Jordan and Marsha (Lee) Bell of Crete, Illinois; two grandsons, Daniel Phelps of East Jordan and Kileean (Meg) Bell of Crete, Illinois; and two great grandsons, Roman Gerfen of Longview, Texas and Ezra Bell of Crete, Illinois; several nieces and nephews; and fifty exchange students who frequented her home from fourteen different countries over the years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bruce Gillespie, on December 9, 2011; her parents; and one granddaughter, Marleea Gerfen.
A private graveside service will be held at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois.
Arrangements by the Penzien Funeral Homes, Inc. in East Jordan, Michigan.
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