Shirley Ruth Gillespie left this world on March 14, 2024 to be with our Lord and Savior. She was born on November 22, 1930 in Lakewood, Ohio to the late Elmer E. and Henrietta (Kiefer) Heddrick.
She married Roger Gillespie in 1953 who also predeceased her. Although their marriage ended in divorce, she gained three nieces through her marriage that survive her - Jackie Morelli, Vickie Bennett and Melisa Morris.
She was also predeceased by her sister Grace (Heddrick) Lutz, her grandson Timothy Keller, her nephew Curtis (Adrienne) Lutz and great nephew Michael Lutz.
In later years she met the second love of her life, Robert McClure, who also predeceased her. She and Bob had many wonderful years together in Palm Springs, California.
The most important thing to Shirley was her family. She loved her family with all her heart and sole. In August of 2022 she moved to Washington s totate to live with her daughter and grandson. We will always cherish that time we got to spend with her.
She was so happy to have dogs in her life again. She loved her "puppies" and boy did she spoiled them!
She was also a very big fan of her Ohio State Buckeye football team. No one was to interrupt her while she watched her beloved team each week.
She is survived by her daughter Debi (Gillespie) Keller, her grandson Tom Keller, her niece Carolyn (Joe) Herstine and nephews Jeff (Genny) Lutz and Greg (Michelle) Lutz.
She is also survived by great nieces and nephews Tiffany (Herstine) Whitmer, Holly (Jeff) Kibler, Kristen (Anthony) Graybill, Daniel (Sarah) Lutz, Dustin (Danielle) Lutz, Jennifer Lutz, Bryan Lutz, Shawn Lutz, Alana Lutz, Ian Lutz and Kat Lutz.
Shirley was like a second mom to several of her daughter's friends and is survived by honorary daughters Barbara (Brown) Burchett, Carolyn (Reckner) French and Gina Chodos. She is also survived by honorary grandsons Todd Burchett and Andrew Gundersen, as well as honorary great granddaughter Addyson Geyer.
My mom was the most amazing woman I knew and she will be greatly missed.
Her wishes were to be cremated and I hope to take her home to Minerva, Ohio this summer to be laid to rest.
