Jo Anne Gillespie

Jo Anne Leming Gillespie was born May 15, 1927 in Williamstown, Kentucky and passed away February 20, 2023 in Florence, Kentucky at the age 95.  Jo Anne was the daughter of the late Marcus Samuel and Ruth Elizabeth Dahling Leming.

Jo Anne was a 1945 graduate of Williamstown High School and then went on to study at the Louisville General Hospital School of Nursing.  After attending the School of Nursing she went on to earn her Bachelors Degree from Eastern Kentucky University.  Jo Anne then began a career of caring for others as a Registered Nurse with St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Covington.  After working with St. Elizabeth for many years, Jo Anne continued to serve her community as an Instructor at Northern Kentucky Vocational School for 17 years and then as a Nursing Supervisor at Woodspoint Nursing Home.

Not only did Jo Anne proudly serve and care through her professional career but she was also very involved through her community service. Jo Anne was a devoted member of Erlanger United Methodist Church and former member of the Williamstown and St. Luke Methodist Churches where she served as Parrish Nurse.  She was a member of the Kentucky Nursing Association and proudly volunteered with St. Elizabeth Hospice as well as the American Cancer Society.  Jo Anne was on the Board of Directors for the Florence YMCA, an Ombudsmen of Northern Kentucky as well as a Kentucky Colonel.

On Oct. 28, 1950 she was united in marriage to John Webber Gillespie.  In addition her husband of 72 years, she is survived by 3 daughters: Ruth Anne (Terry) Tennyson of Inman, SC, Emily (Jim) MacFarlane of Florence and Mary Catherine Gillespie of Erlanger; a son: John K. Gillespie of Erlanger; a sister-in-law: Mabel "Buzzy" Leming of Union; 10 Grandchildren; 16 Great Grandchildren; 1 Great Great Grandchild; and multiple nieces and nephews.

Jo Anne Was preceded in death by 3 brothers: Carl Allen Leming, John E. Leming and Sam Leming; a Great Granddaughter: Maxim Ruth Tennyson in 2013; and a Great Grandson: Joseph Bryan Iles in 2018.

Funeral services will be 4:00 PM, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023 at the Erlanger United Methodist Church, 31 Commonwealth Ave., Erlanger, KY  41018.  Visitation will be 2:00 - 4:00 PM, Saturday, at the church.  Burial will be 2:00 PM, Monday, Feb. 27, 2023 at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery, North in Williamstown.

For those wishing to attend the Committal Service on Monday can either meet at the Eckler-McDaniel Funeral Home at 1:30 PM on Monday with the procession leaving at 1:40 PM, or you can meet at the administrative building of Kentucky Veterans Cemetery, North by 1:45 PM.

Memorial contributions in Memory of Jo Anne can be made to the Erlanger United Methodist Church or to the St. Elizabeth Hospice.