GILLESPIE, Lee O.

The Verde Independent, Cottonwood, Arizona Thursday, October 10, 2013 Lee O. Gillespie, 86, of Cottonwood passed away on Tuesday, September 26, 2013, peacefully in his home. He was born on July 31, 1927 in Chicago, IL to Raymond L. and Hazel E. Gillespie. Lee graduated from Hirsch High School in Chicago before attending Wilson Jr. College to obtain his degree in engineering. After finishing school, Lee went on to work as an engineer for the Hyster Co. in 1957, as a self-employed commercial photographer in 1961, as an engineer for Pacific Car and Foundry in 1963, and finally in 1969, as an engineer for Freightliner, where he worked for 21 years until retirement. Lee was an avid tennis player for all of his life. He has been a volunteer at Verde Valley Medical Center for the last 20 years, and he has won numerous awards for his photography. Lee will be missed tremendously by his loving family. Lee is survived by his daughters, Elaine, Kristina and Maria; his grandchildren, Bhakti, Ian and Jacob; and his great-grandson, Jacob Jr. A private family memorial will be held at a later date. An online guestbook is available to sign at www.westcottfuneralhome.com AN ODE TO OUR FRIEND NAMED LEE We wish to honor and celebrate A guy who we feel was truly great He was kind and generous soul Volunteering his retirement time was a sincere goal The folks over at Verde Valley Medical Center do say We are mighty glad he came our way He was born in 19 hundred and 27 His mom looked at him as a gift from heaven He shot up to six foot and five In other ways he did truly strive Gillespie was his family name To which he did add some joy and fame He went from high school in forty-five On to Illinois Tech to learn more than jive His dad said-Son, be a lawyer with verbal skill But he said, Dad, being a pilot is more of a thrill Alas, his eyes were a problem there So engineering was his choice which seemed quite fair His first job was out in Washington State Where being an engineer is a noble fate There he met Joann Trammel who became his wife And to a daughter, Elaine, they gave life They were together for just five years Filled with laughter and just a few tears By 1961 Lee used his camera for more than fun He and Alan Hicks had a two year business run Then off to Pacific Car and Foundry he did go Building military vehicles for six years or so In 1969 Freightliner Trucks he did join By then he was making a little coin To finish off his adventure with the opposite sex His family instincts he did famously flex He married a cutie in nineteen hundred seventy one Her name was Barbara and she was fun And so Lee inherited an extended family They all love and miss him and so do we! -Anonymous