Dolores “Dee” Gillespie (73) beloved wife of Richard Gillespie of Croton died peacefully at home after a long battle with breast cancer. 

She was born to Bruce and Eva (Holbin) Colles and was raised by her stepfather Ernie Hubbard all who all have preceded her in death.  She has one brother Gene (Brenda) Hubbard of Litchfield. 

Surviving are her husband of 55 years Richard “Dick” Gillespie, her children Rob (Sherry) Gillespie of Vassar, Joe (Vicki) Gillespie of Croton, Anne Marie Gillespie of Big Rapids, grandchildren Heather (Ryan) Schiefer of Vassar, Jason (Renee) Gillespie of Phoenix, Katie and Megan Bolter of Big Rapids, Lisa Gillespie of Vassar, great-grandchildren Logyn, Dakota and Koltyn Siebert of Vassar, Onnalei Gillespie of Phoenix, and many other nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends. 

Dee was a homemaker when her children were small.  She loved art, dancing, and entertaining.  She always had a wide circle of friends and a multitude of interests. 

Dee was in the grocery business for thirty plus years and in 1976 she and Dick bought the Croton Dam Store and a few years later opened Gillespie’s Supermarket.  She was instrumental in starting the Croton Chamber of Commerce, the Dam Race and Western Night. 

Between working at the Store and taking care of Dick’s aging parents she also managed to graduate summa cum laude with an associate’s degree from Ferris State University.  While having made her home in Croton, she has also lived in Conway, Arkansas, Cordyn, Indiana, Seymour, Indiana, Goshen, Indiana and Kokomo, Indiana.  She will be missed by all who knew and loved her. 

According to Dee’s wishes she will be cremated and a family memorial will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers please make contributions to Hospice of Michigan who have provided excellent care for her during the final stages of her life. 

The Gillespie family is being served by the McKinley Funeral Homes-Newaygo Chapel..

231-652-5613