Terry L. Gillespie

Terry Lee Gillespie passed away peacefully at his home in Ignacio Colorado on December 13th.

Terry was born in Grand Junction, Colorado to Robert “Bob” Preston and Lillie Reba Gillespie. The family moved to Moab Utah where Terry grew up fishing, farming, and his all-time favorite, hunting.

Terry joined the Navy in January of 1961, and was honorably discharged in 1963.

Terry married Aila Jouste on August 8th, 1964, and they eventually settled in Ignacio, Colorado in 1972.They bought one of the first houses built on Candelaria Heights, where he lived until he died.

Terry was an avid outdoorsman, canceling everything else in his life when hunting season came around. He was very proud of the fact that he hadn’t missed an annual hunting season since he was six. He truly loved hunting and being outdoors. Terry would mix his love of family and nature as often as he could with family camping and fishing trips.

Terry grew up a cowboy, raising horses and cattle for a while. He was known to help break a horse from time to time. He was so much a cowboy; he would not take off his blue jeans and boots even to go to the beach on a family trip to California. Along with hunting, Terry loved the second amendment, and was a gun enthusiast. He turned his hobby of guns into a small business by becoming a gunsmith.

Terry is survived by his Wife, Aila Gillespie, of 60 years, and his five children, Pentti (Amy) Gillespie, Leina Jaramillo, Maija (James) Scoffield, Erek (Laci) Gillespie, and Oscar (Randi) Gillespie, and 11 Grandchildren.