Roscoe Gillespie

Roscoe Conklin Gillespie, Jr., passed away on Monday, October 24th, 2011 at Central Wyoming Hospice. Roscoe was born on March 8th, 1924 in Stephens, AR to Roscoe C. Gillespie and Lotta Clodfelter Gillespie. He was raised by parents who left the family farm in southeastern Missouri to pursue opportunities in Arkansas and try to give their children a better life. The seventh of eight children, he lived through the depression years and lost his father and twin sisters by the age of 14. His brother was married and had a family of his own so he took over the responsibility of helping his mother struggle to raise him and his four remaining sisters. He did odd jobs and worked with his mother and sisters to run a small café in the woods that provided hot meals to the men who were working the newly discovered oilfields of south western Arkansas. They lived frugally and endured hardships that to most of our generation were unimaginable. Running water was a luxury afforded only by townspeople and not until he enlisted in the Navy did he have indoor plumbing. His family insisted he finish high school and all pitched in to ensure his widowed mother and remaining sisters were taken care of. Upon graduation from Willisville high school in 1941 he began a long career in the oilfield starting out as a roustabout for Benedum-Trees Oil Company in Nevada County Arkansas. He enlisted in the U.S Navy in January of 1944. He served as a Storekeeper Second Class on the U.S.S Braxton during WWII and witnessed firsthand the aftermath of the devastation of Nagaskai, Japan from the deck of his ship. Upon his discharge from the Service in April of 1964, he enrolled in college at Magnolia A & M (now Southern University) in Magnolia and completed his B.S in Petroleum Engineering from Oklahoma University in January 1951. He was always so grateful for the opportunity the G.I Bill afforded him and he accepted a position with Sinclair Oil in Baroil, WY in April of that year. He said of his arrival by train that "if he had two nickels to rub together he would have gotten back on a southbound train that same day" but soon came to love Wyoming as much or more than most native Wyomingites.

While working in Baroil and later Sand Draw Field he came to appreciate the unique beauty of Wyoming, be it the mountains or the plains, and the character of the men and woman who settled it. He met the love of his life, Mary Jeanne Kirch, in Riverton in 1952. They were married on February 11, 1954 in Riverton and made their home in Casper where he was working at the time. They had three daughters during their marriage. He spent 32 years in various oilfields in the U.S and Canada including his time spent in Alaska. Roscoe spent most of his daughters younger years "sitting wells" but whenever he could, took them with him so they could see what he did and the places he loved. The last 10 years of his career he was working locally and could spend time at his Alcova Lake Cabin that he loved so dearly with family and always lots of friends. In 1986 he retired from BHP Petroleum to pursue his hobbies of furniture refinishing, fishing, and irritating Mary Jeanne all of which he performed with a passion. When his wife's health declined in her later years he devoted himself to her care until her death in February 2006.

Raised Southern Baptist he always attended the Catholic Church with his wife and children and eventually took instruction and was baptized in May 1991 at St. Patrick's Church. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and active on the Board of the Casper Petroleum Club for many years.
Survivors include daughters Susan Clark (Jim), Sarah Peak and Catharine Schmid-Hackney (Tim) all of the Casper. Six grandchildren James Clark of Casper, Ross Peak, Caleigh Peak and their father Tom Peak all of Casper, Rachel Schmid of Rock Springs, Hannah Schmid of Austin TX, J.D Schmid and their father John C. Schmid both of Southlake TX, one great grandchild Alexsis and his sister Sybil Cole of Magnolia AR, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, five sisters and a brother.

A rosary will be conducted by Father August Koeune at St. Patrick's Catholic Church on Saturday October 29, 2011 at 7:30PM. The Mass of Christian Burial will be performed at 11:00 AM Monday October 31, 2011 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Military Honors provided by Natrona United Veterans Council and Wyoming National Guard.

Memorials may be made in Roscoe's name to Holy Cross Food Bank, 1030 N. Lincoln, Casper WY 82601 or Central Wyoming Hospice and Transitions, 319 S. Wilson St. Casper, WY 82601.
To send messages of condolence to the family, please visit www.newcomercasper.com