Cletis Arthur Gillespie, age 88, passed away peacefully of natural causes on Friday, March 25, 2016 in Madisonville, KY.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Mountain Time on Friday, April 1, 2016 at the First Baptist Church in Clayton with Rev. Trevor Bulls, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Boise City, officiating. Burial will follow in the Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton.
Cletis Arthur Gillespie was born in Clayton, New Mexico on January 8, 1928 to Tom and Elma (Sappenfield) Gillespie. While growing up in Clayton, Cletis loved going to Kenton to help work cattle, and participated in many outdoor activities with his friends. While attending school in Clayton he participated in football, basketball, and track. He especially excelled in football, scoring dozens of touchdowns and was named to the All-State team his senior year. Upon graduation, he attended the University of New Mexico where he continued to play football until he joined the U. S. Army. He served in Korea attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant and returned to civilian life in July 1951. After returning home to Clayton, he became reacquainted with Marilyn Butt at a backyard barbecue. They married in April 1953 and moved to Boise City, Oklahoma where Cletis ran the Phillips 66 truck stop. Soon, three sons were added to the family; Gregory Arthur, Mark Jeffery, and James Scott. During their days in Boise City, Cletis and Marilyn enjoyed playing cards with friends, going to the movies, and attending their sons sporting events and school activities. Cletis was a volunteer fireman, coached Little League baseball, and served on the Boise City school board. He was instrumental in getting the elementary school built. He fished for trout in the mountains of New Mexico, hunted for pheasant and quail in the area, and enjoyed attending horse races in Raton. After leaving Boise City, Cletis and Marilyn lived on a ranch south of Clayton for several years. Later they moved to Laverne, OK for a few years and then to Madisonville, KY where they retired. Cletis is proceeded in death by his mother, father, brother Andrew, and grandson, Grant Arthur. Cletis will be remembered for his quick wit, his integrity, and his teasing ways. To know Cletis was to love him.
SURVIVORS:
WIFE: Marilyn Gillespie of Madisonville, Kentucky
3 SONS: Greg Gillespie and his wife Barbara of San Diego, California, Mark Gillespie and his wife Jacque of Boise City, Oklahoma and Scott Gillespie of Madisonville, Kentucky.
1 SISTER: Mary Weldon of Amarillo, Texas.
He was adored by his 9 grandchildren. He also leaves 11 great-grandchildren, and a host of cousins and friends.
