Sept. 13, 1932 — April 5, 2015

Ruby Olean Gillespie, age 82, of Cassopolis, died Sunday, April 5, 2015, in her residence of natural causes.

Born in Relief, Kentucky to Lowa and Mae (Smith) Gambill, Ruby spent her teens in East Chicago, Indiana graduating from E.C. Washington High School in 1950. That same year, she married Robert Alan Gillespie, calling Hammond, Indiana home for several decades. A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother to all, there was a reflection of God’s love in everything she did. Kind and generous by nature, she put others’ needs before her own. In her spare time she enjoyed escaping to mysterious lands and adventures, as an avid reader; she studied the Bible and rejoiced in the Lord with friends at The Gary Baptist Center and later Woodmar Baptist. Always questing for knowledge, she took Spanish classes at Purdue at age 56! A new great-grandmother in 1989, she affectionately became known as “MeMe” to her family.

Widowed in 1990, Ruby eventually moved to Cassopolis to be closer to her daughter. Here she found a home at Ontwa Baptist Church in Edwardsburg. Reading a book, or more, a day now, Ruby had blossomed into a Scrabble Champ & Enthusiast; easily making friends with her neighbors, she went out of her way to help all she could. A chef in demand, her version and signature Sukiyaki dish was, and will always be, a family fave. In 2013, MeMe happily celebrated five generations, welcoming a great-great grandson.

Preceding Mrs. Gillespie in death are her husband, parents, and granddaughter, Laurie Wilson; grandson, Daniel Goodger; grandson-in-law, Vincent Hill; a sister, Martha Gambill; and brother, Leo Gambill.

Ruby will be greatly missed by many family and friends. She is survived by a daughter, Debra (Ron) Goodger of Cassopolis; four grandchildren, Lisa Hill of Bloomington, Minnesota, Laurie (Will) Logan and Jeff Goodger, both of Niles, and Nichole Goodger of Cassopolis; thirteen great-grandchildren, Devon, Zachary, Leah, Jayla, Alyssa, Joan, Gabe, Faith, Grace, Felicity, Elijah, Jerad, and Sean; great-great-grandson, AnJru LeSure; two sisters, Cathy Alford of Gary, Indiana, and Jewell Wilson of Drakesboro, Kentucky; plus a host of loving nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will gather Saturday, April 11, 2015 from 1 p.m. until time of service at 2:00 p.m. in Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, 202 North Broadway Street, Cassopolis, with the Reverend Michael Elsey officiating. Mrs. Gillespie will be laid to rest in Birch Lake Cemetery in Vandalia.

The family requests any memorial contributions to be made in Ruby’s name to Helping Hands of Cass County, Post Office Box 221, Cassopolis, Michigan 49031, or to any Christian ministry.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Connelly Chapel Wagner Family Funerals, Cassopolis. Please share a memory or a message online: wagnercares.com.