Marriah Gillespie

Marriah S. Gillespie

Rosman - Marriah S. Gillespie, 84, passed away Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at Transylvania Community Hospital.

She was a native of Transylvania County and grew up in the Middle Fork community. She was the daughter of the late Cleveland "Sarge" and Dalice Stewart. She was preceded in death by a son, Phillip L. Gillespie, a sister, Miriam Gillespie, and a grandson, Garland W. Gillespie.

Marriah is survived by her husband of 62 years, Johnnie L. Gillespie; son, Gary Gillespie and wife Susie of Pisgah Forest; 2 grandchildren, Darin Gillespie and Amy Campbell; 3 great grandchildren, Andrew Scott Gillespie, Abby Campbell, and Grace Gillespie.

Marriah grew up on a farm in the Middle Fork Community. She left the small community to work as a "Rosie the Riveter" in Detroit, during WW II. When her sister fell ill, she returned to the mountains of NC to help her parents on the farm and to work at Olin Corp. in Pisgah Forest. She followed that job with jobs in the wool and cotton textile industries. She was an initial investor as well as one of the first employees of Mitchell Bissell. She finished out her career at Wise Machine Shop. Marriah was tireless, working after retirement from the public sector laying down rock for her park (commemorating the Shafer Railroad), gardening, and when she did sit down, knitting and crocheting whatever she dreamed. She could play most any string instrument as well as the piano and spent hours playing and singing.

Visitation will be at Moore Funeral Home on Thursday from 6 until 8 PM.

The funeral service will be held at the Rosman United Methodist Church at 1 PM Friday where Marriah was a member and served the church in many fundraising activities. Rev. Rosaleen Feeser will officiate. Burial will be at the East Fork Methodist Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the East Fork Methodist Cemetery Fund, c/o Carolina Mountains Credit Union, 5716 Old Hendersonville Hwy., Pisgah Forest, NC 28768.

To sign Marriah's memorial register online, please go to "Obituaries" at www.moore-fh.com .