CHASE — Mara Ellen Gillespie, 24, died March 24 at her residence in Chase. Born Sept. 15, 1988 in Great Bend she was the daughter of Geneil Ellen Gillespie. In 2007, she graduated from Chase Rural High School. She graduated from Barton Community College with a CNA degree. A lifelong resident of Chase she was a CNA and CMA and a restaurant cook.
Ms. Gillespie was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church in Chase, Awana Club, and a former Girl Scout
Survivors include a son, Eli Gillespie, of the home; mother, Geneil Ellen “Genny” Miller (Steve), of Chase; grandparents, Grace and Keith Lumpkins of Chase; four brothers, Joshua Ray, Luke Miller, and Ryan Miller, all of Chase and Mark Ray of Leavenworth; three sisters, Ashlyn Ray, Haylee Miller, and Makayla Miller, all of Chase; and special friend Mark Brady of Chase. She was preceded in death by her grandfather, James Gillespie;and great-grandparents, Florence Libby, Lawrence Griffitt and Lucille Cox.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday at the First Southern Baptist Church in Chase with the Rev. Charles E. Kirk officiating. Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. with family present from 5 to 7 p.m., on Thursday at Birzer Funeral Home in Lyons. Memorials are suggested to the Eli Gillespie Education Fund in care of the funeral home.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Birzer Funeral Home*
P.O. Box 89
Lyons, Ks. 67554
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, March 27, 2013