Darlene E. Gillespie, 70, of Boise passed away October 14, 2021. Born March 1st 1951, Shurz, Nevada, Mineral county, USA. Adopted by two wonderful and loving parents: Rosalie Dalton and Gilbert Bryan Gillespie. Lived in Hazen, Nevada on an 80 acre ranch, an oasis in the middle of the desert. The best place to begin life with twin sister Joylene Eunice Gillespie (Ream). Parents were hard working and instilled that in her as a child. Moved to Sacramento, California in 1960, first to a pink house on Greenbriar Way, in Fair Oaks, a suburb of Sacramento. Then short time later moved to a 3 acre farm on Madison Avenue where Bert (her father) was able to continue farming on a small scale. Graduated from Bella Vista high school in 1969, then to the University of California, Sacramento, studying music and French. In 1973 Darlene was called to serve in the France-Switzerland mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
After 18 months she resumed her studies in music composition and French. Then transferred to Brigham Young University for one and a half years. Then came home when her father was diagnosed with cancer and emphysema. He passed in 1979. Darlene and her mother began researching ancestors and eventually crossed the ocean to Scotland -The Gillespie name, found scores of histories of ancestors from the region of Kirkauldy, Scotland. She has compiled two volumes of Gillespie genealogy. She went into healthcare as a CNA, studied 2 years to become an LPN.
The next 34 years served so many people, geriatric, pediatric, in the city prison, home care, Alzheimer’s and dementia patients and in telemetry unit. She worked with and taught her CNAs their duties and responsibilities of their profession. She served her patients with respect and boundless love, they and their families felt. November 2019 she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Our dear Heavenly Father let her stay and enjoy her baby grandson “the grandest of sons” he was born April 11, 2021. She was happy.
Darlene is survived by her daughters: Diamond McKenna Dalton Gillespie & Alexis Joylene Gillespie; Alexis’ Fiancé Kaleb Buttars; granson Ezra Bryan Gillespie; Sister Joylene Eunice Gillespie Ream; Brother in law, Robert Ream; niece Monique Alexis Ream Clifton, nephew in-law Randall Clifton, nephew Isaiah Bryan Ream, grandniece Alaina Clifton; grandnephew Josiah Clifton.
A memorial service will be held, 11:00 am, Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 8620 Goddard Rd., Boise. A committal servcie will follow at 2:30 pm at Riverside Cemetery, 1969 N. River Rd., Payette, Idaho.
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