Willa Tommie Gillespie

Tommie Gillespie passed away peacefully on January 28, 2013 at the age of 100. Tommie, was born in Clyde, Texas on November 25, 1912. She graduated from Roscoe High School in 1930. She moved to El Paso in 1933 to attend the Hotel Dieu School of Nursing. Tommie’s life was rich with family, travel adventures and her passion for the arts. She, along with her late husband, Leon Gillespie, owned and operated the Empire Club and Gillespie’s Steak House from 1959 until 1986. They catered the 1956 movie Giant (in Marfa). Tommie organized and lead trips to Europe, China, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Alaska, Cuba, and Mexico for members of the Empire Club. Tommie appreciated the arts and was an accomplished artist herself. She enjoyed painting pictures of landscapes, family members, and pets. Tommie was proceeded in death by her parents, Mattie Lou and Joseph Banks Stallings, her sisters, Fern Monro, Louise Watson, and her brother Joseph Stallings. Tommie did not have children of her own but shared her love, wisdom and passion for life with her nieces and nephews, Tommie Lou Seymour, Gerald Watson, David and Ray Stallings, Joy Cross, Pam Gomez, Jimmy, George, and Ray Monro and numerous great nieces, nephews and in-laws. Tommie was a strong yet graceful woman who never let life’s challenges get in her way. She led her life with conviction and purpose and was always willing to share her opinions, wisdom, and humor with her many friends and close family. Her enthusiasm for continuing to learn led her to attend class regularly at UTEP until she was in her early 90s. Tommie also loved sharing her life experiences with young people and never turned down the opportunity to speak to school children about life during the depression. Visitation will be from 12 pm to 2pm Sunday, February 3, 2013 at Sunset Funeral Home-East. A graveside service will be held at Fort Bliss National Cemetery Monday, February 4, 2013 at 10 a.m.. Thanks to Frankie Ingo and staff @ United Foster Care for such tender care of Tommie. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the El Paso International Museum of Art, 1211 Montana on Tommie’s behalf. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-East.