Nelda Hughlene Gillespie, 83, of Chase, Kansas, passed away June 29, 2025, at her home, with her family by her side. She was born January 27, 1942, in Okemah, Oklahoma, the daughter of Guy and Donnie (Lamm) Kinslow.
She graduated from Lyons High School, with the class of 1960, and later received her LPN license from McPherson Nursing School in 1978. She worked for the Rice County Hospital as a LPN for several years.
She was a member of the Chase Baptist Church, Striped Bass Association of Kansas and Women’s bowling league of Lyons. She enjoyed quilting, hunting and fishing. On June 25, 1960, Hughlene was united in marriage with Curtis Everett Gillespie in Chase. He preceded her in death on August 9, 2024.
She is also preceded in death by her parents; brother, Klaus Kinslow; sister, Carol Harris; and brother-in-law, Dennis Yeubanks. Hughlene is survived by her three children, Pam Patterson and husband Chuck of St. John, KS, Carl Gillespie and wife Rhonda of Chase, KS, and Rhonda Flickinger and husband Brad of Sterling, KS; brother, Kenneth Kinslow and wife Sandy of Okemah, OK; two sisters, Ardith Dillard and husband Cliff of Wichita, KS, Barbara Yeubanks of Cromwell, OK; seven grandchildren, Charlie Patterson, Dustin Patterson (Kayla), Brandi Larson (Keith), Tony Andrews (Jessica), Michelle Mawhirter (Cole), Kyle Gillespie (Rebekah), and Kacey Andrews (Kylie Boele); sixteen great-grandchildren; and lifelong friend Max Tharp.
Graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, July 3, 2025, at Chase Springdale Cemetery, with Pastor Nickia Larsen officiating. Memorials may be given to The Rebecca Morrison House-Salina Regional or to Pam Patterson (for a scholarship fund in Curtis’s memory), in care of Birzer Funeral Home, Lyons.