Cheryl Gillespie, 83

Cheryl Ann Gillespie, 83, passed away peacefully Jan. 19, 2026. A woman of deep faith and song, she leaves a legacy of service to her family and community.

Born in 1942, Cheryl earned a B.S. from the University of Idaho and worked as a medical technologist at Sacred Heart, Spokane Blood Bank, and National Health Labs. On Aug. 15, 1964, she married Alexander “Leck” Barclay. They raised three children in Spokane in a home filled with music. Cheryl and Leck sang in the Washington Water Power and Manito Presbyterian choirs until Leck’s passing in 1988. As a dedicated mother and seamstress, Cheryl was the heart of her children's active lives.

In 2000, Cheryl married David W. Gillespie. They spent 25 years in the Cheney/Spokane area, active in the Grotto and First Presbyterian’s Thursday Night Live. Inseparable partners, they shared a passion for gardening and hospitality. David preceded her in death in August 2025.

Cheryl was an award-winning arranger with the Spokane Garden Club, a member of Eastern Star, and a talented "thrifter." She found peace at the lake, at her sewing machine, or singing hymns.

She is survived by her children: Cathleen (Brian) Hobson and children Benji, Hannah, and Caelan; Alex Barclay (Kimmy Meinecke) and children Eli and Gabriel; and Pat (Megan) Barclay and children Bradley and Elizabeth. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Leck and David, and her parents, Alfred and Dorothea.

Service info: celebration of life, 1 p.m. Jan. 26, 2026, at First Presbyterian Church, Spokane. Graveside service, 10 a.m., Jan. 30, 2026, at Fairmount Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Spokane or the American Cancer Society. Please go to Cheryl's online guestbook at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.