Barbara Phyllis Gillespie, age 67, of Sparta, passed away at 7:18 p.m. Wednesday, December 28, 2011, at her home.
She was born October 31, 1944, in Urbana to Clark and Helen (Watt) Crawford. Barbara was united in marriage to Jeffrey Gillespie on July 1, 1967 in Effingham, celebrating 44 anniversaries together as husband and wife.
Barbara is survived by her husband, Jeffrey; two daughters, Jennie Gillespie and Jessica (Ryan) Muskopf; two grandchildren, Katie Muskopf and Teddy Muskopf; two sisters, Dixie (Buck) Petticrew and Connie (Ross) Foley; along with several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant sister, Peggy.
Also surviving are Barbara's beloved dog, Josie, and cat, Luke.
Barbara's love of music began while growing up in Tolono and Effingham, where as a child she was selected to sing in adult choirs and learned to play many different musical instruments. Her passion for music drew her to a career in teaching, and she spent the last 18 years of her career teaching K-12 music, band and chorus in Coulterville.
Before making a permanent home in Sparta, she and her family also lived, worked, and made lifelong friends in Beardstown and Danvers.
Her affection for Celtic and Baroque music led her to join friends as a founding member of The Peacocks, a traditional string instrument group playing at 17th-19th century re-enactment events and historic locales throughout the region.
After retirement, Barbara and Jeff began Gille Antiques, and found more time for extensive travel including trips to Egypt and India.
She was the choir director for the John Brown Memorial Choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sparta for over 20 years, where she also held past offices as Deacon and Elder. She was a member of the Randolph County Historical Society, Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority and past music director of the Sparta Community Chorus.
Barbara will be remembered as a woman of faith and commitment, who believed that she had been rewarded with the life that she had truly hoped for, surrounded by the things she loved: family, grandchildren, friends, pets, antiques, opportunities for making and enjoying music, and simple pleasures such as experimenting in the kitchen with a Julia Child recipe.
A celebration of Barbara's life was held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sparta.
Visitation will be held at the church from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, December 30 and 9 a.m. until the hour of service on Saturday.
The family suggested that memorial contributions be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church or Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Arrangements for Barbara Gillespie was under the direction of Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora.
She was born October 31, 1944, in Urbana to Clark and Helen (Watt) Crawford. Barbara was united in marriage to Jeffrey Gillespie on July 1, 1967 in Effingham, celebrating 44 anniversaries together as husband and wife.
Barbara is survived by her husband, Jeffrey; two daughters, Jennie Gillespie and Jessica (Ryan) Muskopf; two grandchildren, Katie Muskopf and Teddy Muskopf; two sisters, Dixie (Buck) Petticrew and Connie (Ross) Foley; along with several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant sister, Peggy.
Also surviving are Barbara's beloved dog, Josie, and cat, Luke.
Barbara's love of music began while growing up in Tolono and Effingham, where as a child she was selected to sing in adult choirs and learned to play many different musical instruments. Her passion for music drew her to a career in teaching, and she spent the last 18 years of her career teaching K-12 music, band and chorus in Coulterville.
Before making a permanent home in Sparta, she and her family also lived, worked, and made lifelong friends in Beardstown and Danvers.
Her affection for Celtic and Baroque music led her to join friends as a founding member of The Peacocks, a traditional string instrument group playing at 17th-19th century re-enactment events and historic locales throughout the region.
After retirement, Barbara and Jeff began Gille Antiques, and found more time for extensive travel including trips to Egypt and India.
She was the choir director for the John Brown Memorial Choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sparta for over 20 years, where she also held past offices as Deacon and Elder. She was a member of the Randolph County Historical Society, Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority and past music director of the Sparta Community Chorus.
Barbara will be remembered as a woman of faith and commitment, who believed that she had been rewarded with the life that she had truly hoped for, surrounded by the things she loved: family, grandchildren, friends, pets, antiques, opportunities for making and enjoying music, and simple pleasures such as experimenting in the kitchen with a Julia Child recipe.
A celebration of Barbara's life was held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sparta.
Visitation will be held at the church from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, December 30 and 9 a.m. until the hour of service on Saturday.
The family suggested that memorial contributions be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church or Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Arrangements for Barbara Gillespie was under the direction of Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora.
Barbara Phyllis Gillespie, age 67, of Sparta, passed away at 7:18 p.m. Wednesday, December 28, 2011, at her home.
She was born October 31, 1944, in Urbana to Clark and Helen (Watt) Crawford. Barbara was united in marriage to Jeffrey Gillespie on July 1, 1967 in Effingham, celebrating 44 anniversaries together as husband and wife.
Barbara is survived by her husband, Jeffrey; two daughters, Jennie Gillespie and Jessica (Ryan) Muskopf; two grandchildren, Katie Muskopf and Teddy Muskopf; two sisters, Dixie (Buck) Petticrew and Connie (Ross) Foley; along with several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant sister, Peggy.
Also surviving are Barbara's beloved dog, Josie, and cat, Luke.
Barbara's love of music began while growing up in Tolono and Effingham, where as a child she was selected to sing in adult choirs and learned to play many different musical instruments. Her passion for music drew her to a career in teaching, and she spent the last 18 years of her career teaching K-12 music, band and chorus in Coulterville.
Before making a permanent home in Sparta, she and her family also lived, worked, and made lifelong friends in Beardstown and Danvers.
Her affection for Celtic and Baroque music led her to join friends as a founding member of The Peacocks, a traditional string instrument group playing at 17th-19th century re-enactment events and historic locales throughout the region.
After retirement, Barbara and Jeff began Gille Antiques, and found more time for extensive travel including trips to Egypt and India.
She was the choir director for the John Brown Memorial Choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sparta for over 20 years, where she also held past offices as Deacon and Elder. She was a member of the Randolph County Historical Society, Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority and past music director of the Sparta Community Chorus.
Barbara will be remembered as a woman of faith and commitment, who believed that she had been rewarded with the life that she had truly hoped for, surrounded by the things she loved: family, grandchildren, friends, pets, antiques, opportunities for making and enjoying music, and simple pleasures such as experimenting in the kitchen with a Julia Child recipe.
A celebration of Barbara's life was held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sparta.
Visitation will be held at the church from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, December 30 and 9 a.m. until the hour of service on Saturday.
The family suggested that memorial contributions be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church or Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Arrangements for Barbara Gillespie was under the direction of Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora.
She was born October 31, 1944, in Urbana to Clark and Helen (Watt) Crawford. Barbara was united in marriage to Jeffrey Gillespie on July 1, 1967 in Effingham, celebrating 44 anniversaries together as husband and wife.
Barbara is survived by her husband, Jeffrey; two daughters, Jennie Gillespie and Jessica (Ryan) Muskopf; two grandchildren, Katie Muskopf and Teddy Muskopf; two sisters, Dixie (Buck) Petticrew and Connie (Ross) Foley; along with several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and an infant sister, Peggy.
Also surviving are Barbara's beloved dog, Josie, and cat, Luke.
Barbara's love of music began while growing up in Tolono and Effingham, where as a child she was selected to sing in adult choirs and learned to play many different musical instruments. Her passion for music drew her to a career in teaching, and she spent the last 18 years of her career teaching K-12 music, band and chorus in Coulterville.
Before making a permanent home in Sparta, she and her family also lived, worked, and made lifelong friends in Beardstown and Danvers.
Her affection for Celtic and Baroque music led her to join friends as a founding member of The Peacocks, a traditional string instrument group playing at 17th-19th century re-enactment events and historic locales throughout the region.
After retirement, Barbara and Jeff began Gille Antiques, and found more time for extensive travel including trips to Egypt and India.
She was the choir director for the John Brown Memorial Choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sparta for over 20 years, where she also held past offices as Deacon and Elder. She was a member of the Randolph County Historical Society, Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority and past music director of the Sparta Community Chorus.
Barbara will be remembered as a woman of faith and commitment, who believed that she had been rewarded with the life that she had truly hoped for, surrounded by the things she loved: family, grandchildren, friends, pets, antiques, opportunities for making and enjoying music, and simple pleasures such as experimenting in the kitchen with a Julia Child recipe.
A celebration of Barbara's life was held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sparta.
Visitation will be held at the church from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, December 30 and 9 a.m. until the hour of service on Saturday.
The family suggested that memorial contributions be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church or Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Arrangements for Barbara Gillespie was under the direction of Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora.
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