A memorial service for Harry Reese Gillespie will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Vicksburg on Saturday, April 23, 2011, at 11 a.m. A visitation with the family will be at 10 a.m. in Ward Hall at the church. Riles Funeral Home of Vicksburg is in charge of the arrangements.

Harry passed away Wednesday, March 30, 2011, at Promise Hospital in Vicksburg. He was born on June 27, 1905, in Palestine to Corrie Reese and Mary Susan Aingell Gillespie. Graduating from Palestine High School in 1923, he married Madge “Mimi” Hanson in 1924 and became a dairy farmer during the years he lived in Palestine.

Harry and his family moved to Vicksburg in 1954, and he retired in 1970 as corporate vice president for the Merchants Company and general manager of the Valley Mills Division. During his professional career he worked for Universal Mills in Fort Worth, Sunglo Feed, Fant Milling Company of Sherman, Texas.

He became a member of the Rotary Club International of Palestine in the 1920s and a member of the Vicksburg Rotary Club in 1954. To all who knew him, he indeed earned the title of “Mr. Rotary.”

Because of his love of music and theater, he became active in the Vicksburg Little Theatre. For many years he played the role of Father in “Gold in the Hills” on the Dixie Showboat, “The Sprague.” During his retirement years he was active in Vicksburg with organizations such as Meals-On-Wheels, Helpline, a director of Cedar Grove and an ordained deacon in the Presbyterian Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, “Mimi” in 1991; his son, Harold “Hal” Gillespie in 1992; and his daughter, Susan DeBard Withey in 1999.

Harry is survived by his son, Jon (Jeanine) Gillespie of McAllen; daughter-in-law, Jean Catterall Gillespie; and son-in-law, William “Bill” Withey. He is also survived by eight grandchildren Gail Blakeney, Jon (Kelly) Gillespie Jr., Elizabeth (Chad) Withey Vandiver, Victoria (Bill) Withey Strong, Margaret (Jason) Gillespie Greenburg, Molly (Frank) Dennett, Anne (Dan) Calder, Reese Gillespie; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Our family would like to extend our thanks for the loving care given to Harry by Mary and Howard Benson, Dr. Walter Johnston, Pat Geary and Kathleen and Edgar Allen.

Honorary pallbearers are the members of the Vicksburg Rotary Club and the staff of Heritage House Assisted Living.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Gwendolyn Strong Foundation (research for the cure of Spinal Muscular Atrophy), 27 W. Anapamu St., Suite 177, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

A family graveside burial service was held April 17 in Palestine, Texas.