SR., Dean Ivan GILLESPIE

McMinnville resident and Brady, TX native Dean Ivan Gillespie, Sr., age 78, was born April 24, 1933 and died March 23, 2012 at Alive Hospice in Nashville, TN following a two-week illness. A civil engineer with Bridge Builders and member of the Christ United Methodist Church, he was the son of the late David D. Gillespie, Sr. and Jessie Blankenship Edwards. He was married February 5, 1977 to Martha Ann Ashley Gillespie who preceded him in death January 31, 2009. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Dean Gillespie, Jr.; step-son, Donald Brenner and sister, Wanda Palmer. He is survived by three children and their spouses, "Bunny" and Wade Sugg and "Kitty" and Michael Young both of Franklin, TN and John Daniel Gillespie of McMinnville; step-children and their spouses, Vickie and Rick Darnell of Orange, CA and Gerry Brenner of Oxford, MD; grandchildren, Trey Sugg, Andrew Sugg, William Gillespie, Lily Gillespie and John Gillespie; step-grandson, Benjamin Brenner; brothers and sisters, David Gillespie, Jr. of Mobile, AL, Virginia Carlin of El Cajon, CA, Wallace Gillespie of Franklin, TN, Betty Ray of Oroville, CA, David Gillespie of Nashville, TN, Jim Gillespie of North Carolina, Linda Dunlap of McMinnville, Charles Gillespie of Cookeville, TN and Nolberto Gillespie of Altamont, TN and step-mother, Chole Gillespie of McMinnville. Funeral service was held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, March 26, 2012 at Christ United Methodist Church with Rev. Mark Carrigan officiating. Burial followed in the Gardens of Memory. Memorial contributions may be made to Christ United Methodist Church, American Heart Association or Juvenile Diabetes Association.