Memorials › John Lee “Pooch” Gillespie
John Lee “Pooch” Gillespie
5 Jul 1928 – 23 Nov 2006
| Birth | 5 Jul 1928 |
| Death | 23 Nov 2006 |
| Cemetery | Phillips Cemetery Dripping Springs , Hays County , Texas , USA |
| Added by | Laurie Pieper on 09 Oct 2010 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59844516 |
Bio
John Lee Gillespie July 5, 1928 - November 23, 2006 John Lee Gillespie John Lee Gillespie, age 78, passed away Thanksgiving morning, November 23, 2006. He wrote this summary of his life prior to his death. I was born July 5, l928 to Tom and Alvina Gillespie. I was their only child and the apple of their eyes. After finishing the 5th grade in Austin, we moved to Dripping Springs. Those were happy days spent hunting, fishing and playing Cowboys and Indians with the Williamson boys. I finished high school in l945 and married my high school sweetheart, Lila Thielpape, in l946 at the First Baptist Church in Dripping Springs. After finishing barber college in l948, we had our first son, Don in l949, then Mike in l950, Connie Cissie in l955, and Jim in l956. In l951, I decided to pursue a different career and entered the Texas Highway Patrol. After completing training, I was assigned to security for Governor Alan Shivers and later to Governor Price Daniel. For an old country boy, this was a most enjoyable time to be around so many prominent people including two presidents, many senators and movie actors. I went into the jewelry and loan business in l961. My wife and children were helping me with the foundation for a new building in l963 when I had my first heart attack. How proud I was of them when they came to the hospital and told me they had completed the foundation work. Our sons helped in the business after school, on Saturdays and sacrificed sports and other fun to help out. All four children finished college â€" two CPA’s, a business major and a teacher. Several years later, two sons came into the business with us, and Lila and I retired to the ranch on Ranch Road 12. Our children and grandchildren enjoyed the ranch, cattle, wildlife and exploring. Tragedy hit our family in l989 when our son Mike was going home from work and was hit head-on by a drunk driver and was killed, leaving a wife, ten-year-old daughter Jenny and eight-year-old son Jason. Several years later, we purchased a coast home in Port O’Connor and that was some of the most memorable days of my life were spent bay and offshore fishing and hanging out with my family. Other special memories involved our wonderful friends Jack and Ruth Huey, Lee and Lonnie Rutter, Dayton and Wanda Warden, and many other friends. I am survived by Lila, my wife of 60 years, son Don and wife Aileen, son Jim and wife Jan, and daughter Connie and husband Dale Vaclavik; grandchildren Jenny, Megan, Jason, Dane, Matt, Mike, Tara, Bodie and Tess; great grandson Michael; brother-in-law Reverend Joel Thielpape and wife Ann. As I look back, I have been blessed beyond measure with a good family, many friends, a good church especially the Silver Saints Sunday class, pretty good health and a good appetite â€" what more can a man ask for? On Sunday, the family will receive friends at the Harrell Funeral Chapel in Dripping Springs from 4 - 6 p.m. Funeral services will be held Monday at 10:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Dripping Springs with burial at the Phillips Cemetery.
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