Edna Paulene Harris Gillespie was born in Tingley, Ringgold County, Iowa on February 8, 1896, to her mother Elizabeth Ellen (Lizzie) Pollock Harris and her father Joseph Parker Harris. Grandma had a twin sister who died early in life and a brother born in 1890 who died in 1900 when she was four years old. Grandma's older sister Myrtle born in 1884 and older brother Fred born in 1883 survived with her to adulthood.
Grandma told me she worked with her Dad and baled hay on the farm in Iowa. She told me she always wanted to be a doctor but her Dad said it was not a respectable profession for a woman to see a man not fully clothed.
She married Archie Roy Gillespie in 1917 and was the mother of seven(7) children (Leonard, Charlotte, Dale, Delmer, Floretta, Theda, and Bennie). She was a strong woman with a steel-trap mind. Grandma remembered all her children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and in-laws' birth dates, addresses, phone numbers, anniversaries including any events or promises she made along the way. She was a virtual address book for everyone in the family no matter how long since she had last seen them. My uncle challenged her when she gave me the phone number of a cousin saying he would look it up because it had been years since she had seen him. He quickly learned again she was right.
When I was about 10 years old she showed me the ring on her finger and said when I die, Sherri, you will get this ring because we are both born in February. When last I saw her in 1989 she shared this promise with me. I was flattered that she remembered. She added with an apology she really needs to leave her wedding ring to her daughter Floretta. Grandma then pointed to the birthstone ring that my Uncle Delmer had mined the Amythist and made her the ring. She asked if I would accept it instead. I told her I would be honored with her precious gift and her remarkable remembrance of a promise made so long ago.
Grandma knew I loved her chocolate pies and anytime I would visit she made me a chocolate pie. The last time I saw her in September 1989 she was very frail but still insisted her son Delmer make me a chocolate pie using her recipe which he did reluctantly. He did a fine job making her tasty chocolate pie.
My cousin Linda and I as little kids five and six years old would get into a scrabble. Then out of nowhere, Grandma would come outside with her marbles. They were in a large can in all colors with peewees and boulders. She told us if we quit arguing we could each pick out our favorite to play with for the day. We were thrilled at getting our pick of her marbles and stopped arguing immediately.
Grandma was a devout Baptist who never preached or judged anyone. She went to church every Sunday and taught Sunday school but she never discussed her beliefs. Grandma had such a large family and loved each and every one of us. A family of this size undoubtedly included the full range of beliefs and nationalities and races. I am convinced she decided early on that keeping the family together was more important than whether we agreed with her beliefs. She was never prejudice causing me to ask her if my Dad was prejudice because of WWII. Her reply was, "Honey your Dad was born that way" cocking her head with a little smile.
When I found out my Mother was ill with Emphysema within a year of my being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia I called my Grandmother. I told her I have to get my Mother to stop smoking. She responded, "No Sherri you don't". You just have to get well and remember your Mother is always your Mother and it is not up to you to change her". Excellent advice for any daughter or son to consider when dealing with Mom. I have so many fond memories of my Grandma. These are just a few to honor her character and made her so very precious to the family. She passed peacefully on February 20, 1990, and is buried with her husband Roy who died in 1959, and her eldest son Leonard who died in 1985, and her daughter Theda who died in 1977 predeceased her. She is buried in Portales next to Roy, and near her son Leonard.
CAVEAT: © copyright E. Paulene Gillespie 1986 Biography and Photo may not be used in published genealogy without written authorization from owner S. Gillespie
Grandma told me she worked with her Dad and baled hay on the farm in Iowa. She told me she always wanted to be a doctor but her Dad said it was not a respectable profession for a woman to see a man not fully clothed.
She married Archie Roy Gillespie in 1917 and was the mother of seven(7) children (Leonard, Charlotte, Dale, Delmer, Floretta, Theda, and Bennie). She was a strong woman with a steel-trap mind. Grandma remembered all her children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and in-laws' birth dates, addresses, phone numbers, anniversaries including any events or promises she made along the way. She was a virtual address book for everyone in the family no matter how long since she had last seen them. My uncle challenged her when she gave me the phone number of a cousin saying he would look it up because it had been years since she had seen him. He quickly learned again she was right.
When I was about 10 years old she showed me the ring on her finger and said when I die, Sherri, you will get this ring because we are both born in February. When last I saw her in 1989 she shared this promise with me. I was flattered that she remembered. She added with an apology she really needs to leave her wedding ring to her daughter Floretta. Grandma then pointed to the birthstone ring that my Uncle Delmer had mined the Amythist and made her the ring. She asked if I would accept it instead. I told her I would be honored with her precious gift and her remarkable remembrance of a promise made so long ago.
Grandma knew I loved her chocolate pies and anytime I would visit she made me a chocolate pie. The last time I saw her in September 1989 she was very frail but still insisted her son Delmer make me a chocolate pie using her recipe which he did reluctantly. He did a fine job making her tasty chocolate pie.
My cousin Linda and I as little kids five and six years old would get into a scrabble. Then out of nowhere, Grandma would come outside with her marbles. They were in a large can in all colors with peewees and boulders. She told us if we quit arguing we could each pick out our favorite to play with for the day. We were thrilled at getting our pick of her marbles and stopped arguing immediately.
Grandma was a devout Baptist who never preached or judged anyone. She went to church every Sunday and taught Sunday school but she never discussed her beliefs. Grandma had such a large family and loved each and every one of us. A family of this size undoubtedly included the full range of beliefs and nationalities and races. I am convinced she decided early on that keeping the family together was more important than whether we agreed with her beliefs. She was never prejudice causing me to ask her if my Dad was prejudice because of WWII. Her reply was, "Honey your Dad was born that way" cocking her head with a little smile.
When I found out my Mother was ill with Emphysema within a year of my being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia I called my Grandmother. I told her I have to get my Mother to stop smoking. She responded, "No Sherri you don't". You just have to get well and remember your Mother is always your Mother and it is not up to you to change her". Excellent advice for any daughter or son to consider when dealing with Mom. I have so many fond memories of my Grandma. These are just a few to honor her character and made her so very precious to the family. She passed peacefully on February 20, 1990, and is buried with her husband Roy who died in 1959, and her eldest son Leonard who died in 1985, and her daughter Theda who died in 1977 predeceased her. She is buried in Portales next to Roy, and near her son Leonard.
CAVEAT: © copyright E. Paulene Gillespie 1986 Biography and Photo may not be used in published genealogy without written authorization from owner S. Gillespie
Edna Paulene Harris Gillespie was born in Tingley, Ringgold County, Iowa on February 8, 1896, to her mother Elizabeth Ellen (Lizzie) Pollock Harris and her father Joseph Parker Harris. Grandma had a twin sister who died early in life and a brother born in 1890 who died in 1900 when she was four years old. Grandma's older sister Myrtle born in 1884 and older brother Fred born in 1883 survived with her to adulthood.
Grandma told me she worked with her Dad and baled hay on the farm in Iowa. She told me she always wanted to be a doctor but her Dad said it was not a respectable profession for a woman to see a man not fully clothed.
She married Archie Roy Gillespie in 1917 and was the mother of seven(7) children (Leonard, Charlotte, Dale, Delmer, Floretta, Theda, and Bennie). She was a strong woman with a steel-trap mind. Grandma remembered all her children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and in-laws' birth dates, addresses, phone numbers, anniversaries including any events or promises she made along the way. She was a virtual address book for everyone in the family no matter how long since she had last seen them. My uncle challenged her when she gave me the phone number of a cousin saying he would look it up because it had been years since she had seen him. He quickly learned again she was right.
When I was about 10 years old she showed me the ring on her finger and said when I die, Sherri, you will get this ring because we are both born in February. When last I saw her in 1989 she shared this promise with me. I was flattered that she remembered. She added with an apology she really needs to leave her wedding ring to her daughter Floretta. Grandma then pointed to the birthstone ring that my Uncle Delmer had mined the Amythist and made her the ring. She asked if I would accept it instead. I told her I would be honored with her precious gift and her remarkable remembrance of a promise made so long ago.
Grandma knew I loved her chocolate pies and anytime I would visit she made me a chocolate pie. The last time I saw her in September 1989 she was very frail but still insisted her son Delmer make me a chocolate pie using her recipe which he did reluctantly. He did a fine job making her tasty chocolate pie.
My cousin Linda and I as little kids five and six years old would get into a scrabble. Then out of nowhere, Grandma would come outside with her marbles. They were in a large can in all colors with peewees and boulders. She told us if we quit arguing we could each pick out our favorite to play with for the day. We were thrilled at getting our pick of her marbles and stopped arguing immediately.
Grandma was a devout Baptist who never preached or judged anyone. She went to church every Sunday and taught Sunday school but she never discussed her beliefs. Grandma had such a large family and loved each and every one of us. A family of this size undoubtedly included the full range of beliefs and nationalities and races. I am convinced she decided early on that keeping the family together was more important than whether we agreed with her beliefs. She was never prejudice causing me to ask her if my Dad was prejudice because of WWII. Her reply was, "Honey your Dad was born that way" cocking her head with a little smile.
When I found out my Mother was ill with Emphysema within a year of my being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia I called my Grandmother. I told her I have to get my Mother to stop smoking. She responded, "No Sherri you don't". You just have to get well and remember your Mother is always your Mother and it is not up to you to change her". Excellent advice for any daughter or son to consider when dealing with Mom. I have so many fond memories of my Grandma. These are just a few to honor her character and made her so very precious to the family. She passed peacefully on February 20, 1990, and is buried with her husband Roy who died in 1959, and her eldest son Leonard who died in 1985, and her daughter Theda who died in 1977 predeceased her. She is buried in Portales next to Roy, and near her son Leonard.
CAVEAT: © copyright E. Paulene Gillespie 1986 Biography and Photo may not be used in published genealogy without written authorization from owner S. Gillespie
Grandma told me she worked with her Dad and baled hay on the farm in Iowa. She told me she always wanted to be a doctor but her Dad said it was not a respectable profession for a woman to see a man not fully clothed.
She married Archie Roy Gillespie in 1917 and was the mother of seven(7) children (Leonard, Charlotte, Dale, Delmer, Floretta, Theda, and Bennie). She was a strong woman with a steel-trap mind. Grandma remembered all her children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, and in-laws' birth dates, addresses, phone numbers, anniversaries including any events or promises she made along the way. She was a virtual address book for everyone in the family no matter how long since she had last seen them. My uncle challenged her when she gave me the phone number of a cousin saying he would look it up because it had been years since she had seen him. He quickly learned again she was right.
When I was about 10 years old she showed me the ring on her finger and said when I die, Sherri, you will get this ring because we are both born in February. When last I saw her in 1989 she shared this promise with me. I was flattered that she remembered. She added with an apology she really needs to leave her wedding ring to her daughter Floretta. Grandma then pointed to the birthstone ring that my Uncle Delmer had mined the Amythist and made her the ring. She asked if I would accept it instead. I told her I would be honored with her precious gift and her remarkable remembrance of a promise made so long ago.
Grandma knew I loved her chocolate pies and anytime I would visit she made me a chocolate pie. The last time I saw her in September 1989 she was very frail but still insisted her son Delmer make me a chocolate pie using her recipe which he did reluctantly. He did a fine job making her tasty chocolate pie.
My cousin Linda and I as little kids five and six years old would get into a scrabble. Then out of nowhere, Grandma would come outside with her marbles. They were in a large can in all colors with peewees and boulders. She told us if we quit arguing we could each pick out our favorite to play with for the day. We were thrilled at getting our pick of her marbles and stopped arguing immediately.
Grandma was a devout Baptist who never preached or judged anyone. She went to church every Sunday and taught Sunday school but she never discussed her beliefs. Grandma had such a large family and loved each and every one of us. A family of this size undoubtedly included the full range of beliefs and nationalities and races. I am convinced she decided early on that keeping the family together was more important than whether we agreed with her beliefs. She was never prejudice causing me to ask her if my Dad was prejudice because of WWII. Her reply was, "Honey your Dad was born that way" cocking her head with a little smile.
When I found out my Mother was ill with Emphysema within a year of my being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia I called my Grandmother. I told her I have to get my Mother to stop smoking. She responded, "No Sherri you don't". You just have to get well and remember your Mother is always your Mother and it is not up to you to change her". Excellent advice for any daughter or son to consider when dealing with Mom. I have so many fond memories of my Grandma. These are just a few to honor her character and made her so very precious to the family. She passed peacefully on February 20, 1990, and is buried with her husband Roy who died in 1959, and her eldest son Leonard who died in 1985, and her daughter Theda who died in 1977 predeceased her. She is buried in Portales next to Roy, and near her son Leonard.
CAVEAT: © copyright E. Paulene Gillespie 1986 Biography and Photo may not be used in published genealogy without written authorization from owner S. Gillespie
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