Lapriel Owens Gillespie

Lapriel Owens Gillespie passed away peacefully in her home on January 21, 2025 after a short illness.  A viewing will be held on Friday, February 7 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 309 West Willow Lane in Taylor Arizona.  There will be a viewing in the same building from 10:00 am to 10:45 am on February 8, 2025 followed by funeral services starting at 11:00 am.  Following a luncheon, interment will follow in the Vernon, Arizona Cemetery. 

Lapriel was born in Show Low, Arizona on September 26, 1931 to Almon David and Alta Ellsworth Owens.  She was the 9th of 12 children and lived a long life of kind and loving service to her family and others.  

Lapriel married William Edward (Ed) Gillespie on October 6, 1949 for time and eternity in the Mesa, Arizona temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  She loved him with all her heart and served him selflessly.  Spending time with him gave her great joy.  She missed him dearly after he died, and certainly there was a sweet reunion when she passed from this life.  

She was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and spent countless hours serving in multiple callings.  She also volunteered in the community and supported her family in all their activities when they were young.  She loved to spend time in her home; cooking, baking, sewing, quilting and performing many acts of service to others.

She spent her childhood in her parent’s home in Show Low, Arizona.  Growing up in a large family with loving parents, she was happy and well adjusted.  During her youth, the country experienced the Great Depression and then World War II.  She learned to make do with little in the way of earthly comforts.  After they were married, Ed joined the Air Force.  Their first child, Denise, was born in San Antonio, Texas where Ed was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base.  It took 6 years until their next child was born, but after Kerry’s birth, Todd, Sherilyn and Loretta came in quick succession, completing their immediate family.  They settled in Show Low, Arizona in Lapriel’s childhood home, until Ed’s job in Snowflake, Arizona took them to Taylor, where Lapriel has lived until her passing.

Lapriel is survived by her daughters Denise Hall Carpenter (Brian) of Taylor, Arizona and Sherilyn Peterson of Snowflake, Arizona, her sons Kerrin Gillespie (Karen) of Orem, Utah and Todd Gillespie (Carolyn) of Gilbert, Arizona, and a son-in-law, Les Johnson (Roxanne) of Taylor, Arizona.  She also has 36 living grandchildren, 112 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.  

She is preceded in death by her husband, William Edward Gillespie, her daughter, Loretta Gillespie Johnson, her sons-in-law George K. Hall and L. Kipp Peterson, a great granddaughter, Trinity Hall, her parents and her 11 siblings (8 brothers and 3 sisters).

Lapriel Owens Gillespie Life Video

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