Jean Gillespie
August 27, 2021
Irma Jean Gillespie, professionally known as Dr. Jean Roland Gillespie, 94, of Urbana, peacefully passed away in her sleep Friday, August 27, 2021.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Morgan Memorial Home, Savoy is in charge of arrangements.
Jean was born on September 29, 1926, in Champaign, I…read more
Irma Jean Gillespie, professionally known as Dr. Jean Roland Gillespie, 94, of Urbana, peacefully passed away in her sleep Friday, August 27, 2021.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Morgan Memorial Home, Savoy is in charge of arrangements.
Jean was born on September 29, 1926, in Champaign, Illinois to Vern and Anna Roland. She was preceded in death by Robert H. Gillespie, her husband of 53 years and her son Thomas Gillespie. She is survived by two sons John Gillespie (Patti) of Champaign and Bob Gillespie (Kenna) of Silverton Oregon; six grandsons Rob (Angela), Brian, Danny, Clayton, Nolan (Rachael); Alec Gillespie (Mackenzie) and eight great grandchildren.
Jean attended University High School for 3 years then graduated from Champaign High School in 1943. She went on to the University of Illinois receiving a degree in sociology and psychology in 1947, where she was a member of the AOP Sorority. For 19 years, Jean raised her three sons. She then returned to the University of Illinois earning a master’s in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling and a doctorate in School Psychology. She worked as a school psychologist for 7 years then opened a practice as a clinical psychologist, which she maintained for nearly 3 decades. Jean also kept a life-long interest in the Gillespie-Roland Apartments, a business started by her father in 1920.
Jean had many life-long passions, including a love of music. She studied violin as a youth and piano as an adult. She was a member of the Symphony Guild, enjoyed concerts at Krannert, and hosted many musical Christmas Eve parties featuring Grammy award-winning pianist Laurence Hobgood. Another passion was for horses. She learned to ride hunt seat and jump horses as a teenager and to breed and show American Saddle Bred Horses well into her senior years. She was a long-time member of the Champaign County Country Club and enjoyed golf outings and was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Church since the 1960s.
Jean was a one-of-a-kind woman, with an immense love for family and a knack for storytelling and ‘one- liners.’ She was also a strong advocate for civil, human, and women’s rights, as was demonstrated through her membership in the Urban League of Urbana, the NAACP, the League of Women Voters, and Planned Parenthood. Her exuberant personality will be fondly remembered by the many hearts and minds she has touched over the years.
“But today, well lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this day.”
Condolences may be offered at www.morganmemorialhome.com.
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Jerry Carden & Tim Temple posted on 9/11/21
My husband Tim and I have known Jean ever since we started attending the Unitarian church. We loved her quick with, her wide-ranging knowledge on a dizzying array of subjects, and at times she could put you on edge with an observation maybe you weren't ready to hear. Jean knew how to throw a party, and she held countless numbers of events for the UU church. She and son Tom (gone too soon) would host auction events that everyone wanted to attend. Particularly of note was the Bluegrass, Beans and Barbecue events held at Tom's, but Jean was hostess as well- even after having her mobility impaired. Jean and Tom supported so very many property projects at UU. Their theory was, give a large contribution, such as in 2014- they gave half the cost of a new boiler system, with the challenge for the church folks to raise the rest. We always came through, because we were inspired by their unbounding generosity. Especially fun was hearing Jean and Tom kibbutz back and forth... with language not for the faint of heart! We loved both Tom and Jean immensely, and now that they are both gone, I'm sure a few thunderstorms were the result of their 'heavenly' banter back and forth. Much love to the whole Gillespie crew, including their staff, who would come together for the Christmas Eve party at Jeans with Laurence Hobgood and spouse from New York entertaining us all evening. I often heard the various staff members refer to her as Grandma Jean- and they all loved her as their own grandma. With love, Jerry Carden & Tim Temple