Fairbury – James R. Gillespie, 82, of Fairbury, passed away at 11:30am, April 16, 2014 at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington.

Funeral will be held at 10:00am, Saturday, April 19, 2014 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury. Pastor Christian Ricker will be officiating. Burial will be in Bellflower Cemetery.

Visitation will be 5-7:00pm, on Friday, April 18, 2014 also at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Fairbury American Legion Speedway or South Eastern Livingston County Ambulance Association.

James was born January 18, 1932 in Maple Grove, the son of Conrad and Maggie McCleary Gillespie. He married Lilly Hope Seigmund on December 14, 1949 in Bellflower. She survives.

Also surviving are his children; Marilyn Gillespie of Fairbury, Ruth (David) Beck of Eureka, Robert (Patty Jo) Gillespie of Springfield, and James (Lisa) Gillespie of Sibley; grandchildren, Heather (Jeff) Petty, Rebecca (Jarod) Drayer, Scott (Brittny) Potthast, Emery (Melissa) Hetherington, Sherry (Jason) Birkenbeil, Robbie Gillespie, Morgan Allin, Matthew Allin, and Michael (Evelyn) Gansbauer; several great-grandchildren and one great great-granddaughter; brother, Tommy Gillespie of Olney; sisters, Sharon (John) Moser of Arthur, Neeva Hardy of Mansfield, and Joyce (Loren) Smith of Olney.

James was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers.

James last worked as a truck driver for Eppel's. He was a pit steward for the Fairbury American Legion Speedway for many years.

He loved his friends and loved his time spent with them at McDonald's and Dave's.