Hazel West Fish Gillespie

Hazel West Fish Gillespie passed away Thursday, September 13, 2007 in Show Low, Arizona at the age of 93. She was born on June 15, 1914 in Lakeside, AZ to the late Ezra Joseph and Elma (Stratton) West. Her great-grandfather was Edmund L. Ellsworth, and was an early pioneer of Show Low. He also was the Captain of The First Handcart Company of Mormon pioneers, leading them from Iowa to The Salt Lake Valley. At the age of four her mother Elma passed away. Her father then married Veralda Lisonbee, whom she loved dearly. Hazel graduated from Phoenix Union High School in 1932. On January 10, 1933 she married Glen M. Fish in the Mesa Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Glen passed away in 1939 after a bout with pneumonia. In 1944 Hazel married Guy A. Gillespie at Ft. Bliss, Texas. She worked for several years as the U.S. Postmaster in Lakeside. She also worked as a secretary for her father's insurance company. Hazel was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served in several callings, including that of Relief Society President, while living in Mesa. She also worked as a secretary at the Mesa Arizona Temple for 6 years. In the 1980's Hazel and her second husband, Guy, served a mission for The Church in the England Manchester Mission. After her mission, she was able to visit her brother's grave, who was killed at the Battle of the Bulge, at the Lorraine National Cemetery in France. She was an accomplished pianist and could play just about anything on the piano from old Ragtime favorites to Classical. She taught several of her children and grandchildren how to play. She even played the piano at some of the dances her children attended while in their youth. Hazel enjoyed working with her hands and made "Grandma Shawls" for all of her granddaughters. She also made quilts by the dozens. Her family will always treasure the beautiful pictures she took, by the hundreds, with her own camera. In spite of all her achievements, Hazel considered her children and grandchildren to be her greatest accomplishments. Hazel is survived by her sons: Glenn Vaughn (Elaine) Fish of Joseph City, Merwyn Joe (Lorraine) Fish of Linden; Barry W. (Bonnie) Fish of Lakeside; Guy Marion (Barbara) Gillespie of Linden; Weston R. (Debbie) Gillespie of Mesa, Stephen R. Gillespie of Linden; daughter, Dolores Batt of Glendora, CA; son in law, Jay Orr of Glendora, CA; 26 grandchildren, 56 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Glen M. Fish in 1939 and Guy A. Gillespie in 1999; one daughter, Beverly Orr in 2006; 1 grandson, Melvin Fish; 1 great-grandson, Connor Gillespie; sisters, Marzelle Higgins and Virginia Whipple; brothers, Marion West and Alma West. Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Friday, September 21, 2007 at Owens Mortuary, 320 N. 9th Street in Show Low, AZ. The Funeral Service will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, September 22, 2007 at The Show Low Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with additional visitation one hour prior to the service at the church in the Relief Society Room. Interment will follow at the Lakeside Cemetery.