Mary Lou Gillespie, age 77, of Malvern, died Wednesday evening August 29, 2007 at her home. She was born in Gifford, Arkansas on April 10, 1930 to the late Fletcher P. and Myrle Buie Fielding. Reared and receiving her early education in Gifford, she moved with her family to Malvern in 1939, finishing her education in the Malvern School System. Mary Lou attended Third Baptist Church as a child. She became a member of 1st Presbyterian Church on March 25, 1962. Mary Lou was the wife of Roland Gillespie, to whom she was married on June 28, 1952 in Hot Springs. She was a devoted wife and mother first and foremost. However, she worked outside the home for a number of years, first being a telephone operator from 1948 until 1959 and then working for Western Foam Pack for nine years, retiring in 1982. According to her family, Mary Lou was a "shopaholic", loved to work crossword puzzles and to play electronic solitaire, and was fond of hummingbirds.

She is survived by her husband, Roland, of the home; by her three daughters, Cindy and her husband Duffie Bruce Gage of Glen Rose; Crysta "Crystie" and her husband Clay Brantley of McKinney, Texas; Cathy and her husband Glen Chancellor of Wylie, Texas; by a brother, Robert R. "Bobby" Fielding and his wife Minnie of Shreveport; by five grandchildren, Dana and her husband Jim Winsauer, Josh Chancellor, Drew Brantley, and Michaela Brantley; and by a special sister-in-law, Dorothy "Dot" Gillespie.

Her memorial service will be held at eleven o'clock Saturday morning, September 1, 2007 in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church with the Reverends Carl McCormack and Clay Brantley officiating. She will be interred on the family plot in Shadowlawn Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers are all members of First Presbyterian Church.

The family will receive friends at the J. A. Funk Funeral Home on Friday evening from six until eight o'clock.

Memorials are requested to First Presbyterian Church of Malvern.

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