Mary L. Gillespie

Mary L. Gillespie, 77, Independence, Mo., formerly of the Moundville/Bronaugh, Mo., areas, passed away on Tuesday night, Jan. 18, 2011, at Center Point Hospital Medical Center, Independence, Mo. She was born on Oct. 26, 1933, in Burlington, Kan., to Frank Nunez and Pansy L. Little Nunez. She married Clinton H. Gillespie on July 7, 1952, in Nevada, and he survives of the home.

Mary was raised in Moundville, Mo. She attended school in Moundville and graduated from Bronaugh High School in 1952. Following her husband's retirement from the military, they moved to Independence, Mo. She was a homemaker and later became a beautician and went to work for the Jones Store in downtown Kansas City where she worked for 15 years until her retirement. She attended Our Lady of Lord's Catholic Church in Raytown, Mo., and St. Mary's Catholic Church in Nevada.

Survivors in addition to her husband, Clinton H. Gillespie, of the home, include three children, Desira Biggerstaff and her husband, Stewart, Liberty, Mo., Clint Gillespie, Independence, Mo., and Robert Gillespie and his wife, Heidi, Independence, Mo.; three grandchildren, Gabe Gillespie, Sean Gillespie, and Conner Gillespie; five sisters, Angelina Geary, Nevada, Margreat Bolser and her husband, Larry, Wheatland, Mo., Norma Dayringer, Martha Tipling, and Teresa Huss, all of Nevada; and two brothers, James Nunez, Independence, Mo., and Paul Nunez, Kansas City, Mo. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Francis Nunez, Robert Nunez and Donald Nunez; and one granddaughter, Ariel Nicole Gillespie.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, Jan. 24, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada. Interment will follow in Welborn Cemetery, Moundville, Mo. Friends may call now and until the hour of service and the family receives friends from 6-7 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 23, at the funeral home.

View obituary and send condolences on line at www.ferryfuneralhome.com