Juanita Mae Gillaspie, 88, went to be with the Lord October 28, 2020, at Mennonite Friendship Communities, in South Hutchinson. She was born April 7, 1932, in Haviland, KS, to Dwight B. and Vida Mae (Jennings) Hardy.
Juanita graduated from Pratt High School in 1949 and in 1952, graduated from Southwestern College in Winfield, KS with an Education Degree in Home Economics. There she met Joe Martin Gillaspie. They were married on June 1, 1952, at the Pratt United Methodist Church. They celebrated 68 years of marriage.
Juanita enjoyed reading, sewing, crocheting, painting, traveling, photography and scrapbooking. She not only taught school, but also helped with local school activities and sporting events with Joe. She enjoyed family gatherings, devoting special attention to her grandchildren.
A life-long member of the United Methodist Church, she served in a wide array of leadership positions within each local church she joined, including teaching Sunday School classes and volunteering in various roles in United Methodist Women. Juanita was elected by the United Methodist Church to be one of eight lay representatives for the 200,000 members of Kansas at four different General Conferences and elected as Kansas West Representative for seven Jurisdictional Conferences. She chaired the conference council for six years and the sessions planning committee. She represented the Rozel United Methodist Church at the Kansas West Annual Conference for over 30 years.
Juanita was a 50+ year member of Family Community Education and held leadership positions in seven counties, as well as Kansas State President, National Program Coordinator, National Treasurer, and President of the National FCE Alumni Association. She represented Kansas at the Associated Country Women’s of the World Congress, once in Kansas City, MO in 1989 and the second time in 1995 when she and Joe traveled to Christ Church, New Zealand. Juanita was also honored by the Kansas State FCE as Extraordinary Women for 2008.
Because piano was one of her passions, she taught piano to young boys and girls for many years in her home. She accompanied both vocal and instrumental soloists at music contests and performances at church. Juanita and Naomi Converse provided special music for holidays and special occasions to members of the Rozel United Methodist Church for many years with their piano-organ duets. Several of her former students have become musicians in their own churches and communities.
Joe and Juanita moved to Rozel in 1969 and stayed 45 years. Due to health reasons they relocated to South Hutchinson, KS where she lived out her last few years.
Juanita is survived by: her husband, Joe; children: Jim (Barbara) Gillaspie of Hutchinson, KS, Judy Gillaspie of Tulsa, OK, Jeff (Jeanie) Gillaspie of Grand Junction, CO; grandsons Joel (Laurie) Gillaspie, Michael Gillaspie, Albert (Kritika) McClure, Chad (Lori) Scates; great-grandchildren, Emilee Scates and Rumi McClure; and sister Janet Campbell.
Juanita was preceded in death by her parents.
Services will be announced at a later date. The family suggests memorials be given to Rozel United Methodist Church c/o Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Online condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com