Vernon Gillespie

Vernon L. Gillespie, 91, of Mountain Home, passed away at his home on Thursday, June 26, 2014.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 2, at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel, located at 500 N. 18th East St., in Mountain Home.

He was born on Feb. 6, 1923, to Victor and Beulah Gillespie in Gooding.

When he was a few weeks old, his mother died and Vern and his older sister lived with grandparents until their passing and then they went to live with their aunt and uncle.

Vern began his lifelong calling as a carpenter at age 14 when he got his first job building frames for bee houses for $2 a day.

At 19, he went to work for the Forest Service on a lookout on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River, a place he would revisit in 1994 on one of many mule trips into the Idaho Wilderness that he loved.

In 1943, Vern joined the U.S. Navy, was honorable discharged in 1946, and entered Idaho Southern College where he studied architecture.

He transferred to the University of Utah where he met a young Canadian nurse named Margaret Fudger. They were married on Dec. 20, 1950.

A daughter was born but died from a heart defect when she was four months old.

After moving to Mountain Home, where Vern worked in the construction business, their sons were born, Kent in 1954 and Craig in 1955.

Vern built their first house on 6th Street, then a larger one for his family on Maple Drive and in 1964 their current home.

Margaret worked as a nurse at the Mountain Home hospital.

Vern was the foreman on over 300 houses, worked on buildings at Boise State University, the Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park, Mountain Home Air Force Base, several shopping centers, many remodeling jobs and built many priceless pieces of furniture for his family.

Vern served three two-year terms on the Elmore County Fair Board, ten years on the Mountain Home School Board, served as a state senator and is a charter member of the Elks and the Elmore County Rotary Club. Vern always believed in community and the importance of volunteer work.

He was also a founding and faithful member of the Round Bellies, a renowned and notorious group of golf friends from Mountain Home.

Vern's favorite times were spent with his family and friends, 4th of July parties, heading to the hills on his best mule, BS, and telling lots of stories at home or around the campfire with a little Yukon Jack.

Vern was an acclaimed mule-trader, finish carpenter, Idaho history buff, gun expert and dedicated friend, husband, father and grandfather. He asked to say thank you to the many friends who took him on memorable trips to the coffee shops, golf course and back country.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret, son Kent and wife Donna of Rupert and son Craig of Bruneau. He is also survived by his brother, John, of Gold Beach, Ore., his beloved grandchildren, Sarah, Brian and Lyndie Gillespie, Hadley (Cassandra) Folkman and great-granddaughter Brylee.

Vern now joins his infant daughter, Barbara Mae, both his parents and his sister, Geraldine Kemp.

In Vern's memory contributions may be sent to Talking Book Service, Idaho Commission for Libraries, 325 W. State Str., Boise, ID 83702-6072.