Susie Gillespie

Susie S. Gillespie

Pisgah Forest - Susie S. Gillespie passed April 24, 2010. She is survived by her husband, Gary E. Gillespie of Pisgah Forest and her brother, Reid Smith of West Asheville. The loves she held without limit, were her grandson Andrew Scott Gillespie and her step granddaughter Samantha Lynn Ritter, of Palm Bay, Florida.

She was predeceased by her own son, Garland Wayne Gillespie, and her parents Daphfney Reid Smith and Marjorie Jones.


She attended Enka High School and graduated high school in VA. She worked in the textile mills of Danville, Va. and Asheville, NC. She then worked for Diamond Brand in Fletcher, cutting canvas and other materials, all the while working on a degree from Blanton's Business College.

Upon returning to Asheville, she met Gary E. Gillespie and a 39 year love story began. They were married in Pickens, SC in December of 1971. Gary moved her from West Asheville to East Fork of Transylvania County. She started as a teller for First Union in 1971 and from then to 1987 rose to be a bank vice-president. She worked for five different banks (each one with its own operation system). Two or three of those bank changes were ownership and she didn't leave the building. However, the operation system would necessarily be different; and the stress being responsible for the operations, lead to a heart attack, at the early age of 36. She subsequently returned to work; but, with only a small portion of her heart left, she ultimately had to seek medical retirement.

The last 17 years have been remarkable in that with little energy and even less endurance, she touched so many people beyond those she had already touched in her work. She presented herself in public as if there were no health problems. The brief excursions in public to eat out or run an errand were fitted between periods of rest to enable the next event, whatever that may be.

Her heart though damaged was huge in capacity to love and do for others. She had a special love for animals, feeding the wild life and taking pictures. She especially loved our pets both cats and dogs (never without) in all those years.

Her church family at English Chapel United Methodist Church learned to trust her financial advice and to depend on her for whatever she was asked to do. Her talents were far reaching and she will be missed by all who knew her.

Susie wanted people to remember her living. She requested only graveside rites where family and friends could visit. Her service will be held 3:30 PM Tues, April 27, 2010 at East Fork Methodist Cemetery across the road from East Fork Baptist Church. The Rev. Lee Eakes will officiate.

To leave a condolence message for the Gillespie family, please go to "Obituaries" at www.moore-fh.com .
Moore Funeral Home is caring for the family.