LIDA JANE SMITH GILLESPIE, 88, passed away
peacefully on July 30, 2024, in Magnolia, TX, with
burial in Hillcrest Burial Park at Waxahachie, TX.
She was born in Graham, TX on Nov. 30, 1935 to Hugh
& Lida Loree (Boyd) Smith. Lida Jane attended Ranger
High School in the Class of 1953 at Ranger, TX. She
was united in marriage to Joe Louis Gillespie Jr. in
June of 1954 in Oklahoma. Joe passed away in 1996 at
the age of 58 after they had 41 years of marriage and
raised three children.
Throughout her life, Lida Jane lived with a generous
spirit and dedicated herself to various roles. She
served as a pianist and organist at First Baptist in
Ranger as a young girl and also as an organist at
First Baptist Church in Midland as an adult. She was
also a clerical worker at Blue Cross and a private
piano teacher. Lida Jane had a profound gift & love
of music and was a founding member of the Conroe
Symphony Orchestra during its inaugural 5 years.
If you have played golf or tennis in April Sound in
Conroe, chances are you crossed paths with Lida Jane.
She and her husband purchased a property lot in this
community, but he then passed away, so she decided
to complete their dream of living in a house on the
golf course and moved to Conroe from Muscatine, IA.
She began to fill the void of the loss of Joe by
playing golf and tennis. She organized several groups
of players and kept the courts full. Lida Jane also
had the opportunity to live overseas in Saudi Arabia
because of Joe's work. They were able to travel to
many European countries over 5 years overseas. But
were ready to return to the USA to spend their later
years.
Lida Jane is preceded in death by her husband, Joe
Louis Gillespie, Jr., her daughter, Lisa Jane Moore
(Bruce), and her son, Patrick Louis Gillespie (Sofia).
Lida Jane is survived by one daughter, Lou Ann Gray
(John) of Magnolia; five grandchildren, Patrick Tyler
Gillespie (Samantha) of Centerville, Patricia Ann
Neidhart (Kyle) of Celina, Samuel Everett Moore of
Flower Mound, Amanda Kathleen Strickland (Adrian)
of San Antonio, and Rachel Alexandria Kranis of
Lewisville. She also has eight great-grandchildren
which she loved dearly, Cade Cable Neidhart, Patrick
Levi Gillespie, Castiel Cruz Maldonado Moore, Dagny
Jane Gillespie, Connor James Neidhart, Jaden Price
Kranis, Patrick Henry Gillespie, and Emily Kate
Neidhart.
She is now reunited with her beloved spouse, Joe;
her parents, Loree & Hugh, as well as her daughter,
Lisa; and son, Patrick. Let us celebrate with those
in heaven and remember Lida Jane's passion for music
and tennis and her genuine love she shared with us
all.