St. Joseph, Tarkio and Albany, MO resident, Nancy VanHoozer Gillespie, age 78, passed away November 26, 2025. She was the daughter of Max and Vera June (Kidwell) VanHoozer and grew up in Tarkio, Missouri and graduated in the 1965 class of Tarkio High School. She had one brother, Gary, and one sister, Carol (Russ) Shinpoch and several nieces and nephews.
Nancy was married to Rod Gillespie, Albany, in 1970. To this union were twin daughters, Tonya McCrea, and Tara (Scott) Wells. She had four grandchildren, Cash McCrea, Ruby Kate, Whitney, and Jesse Wells and two grand dogs, Charlie and Lola.
She was preceded in death by her husband Rod, parents, brother Gary, and granddaughters Ruby Kate and Whitney Kate Wells.
Nancy attended the University of Missouri-Columbia and NWMSU-Maryville and obtained three degrees, and certifications in home economics, counselling, and school administration. She had the privilege of teaching Home Economics at Stanberry R-II, School Counseling at Albany R-III, HS Principal at Norborne R-VIII, Superintendent at Braymer C-1, Maysville R-1 and Osage County R-2 School Districts. After retirement from the MO Public School System in 2008, she was an adjunct professor at MWSU, St. Joseph for five years. She loved her “students” and the thrill of seeing them succeed! She was a loved teacher.
Rod and Nancy engaged in farming, owned and operated the Sears Store and Gillespie Real Estate.
Nancy and Rod moved to St. Joseph after her retirement, and she loved to maintain a craft and antique booth. She always loved finding antique treasurers at garage sales and auctions. One of her favorite past times was refurbishing furniture and primitives. No one would know how many monogram/names tiles she created with her vinyl cutting machine and making charcuterie boards.
Funeral Service: 11:00 AM Tuesday, December 2 at the Roberson-Polley Chapel, Albany. Burial in the Grandview Cemetery, Albany. The family will receive friends 10:00-11:00 AM on Tuesday at the chapel. Memorial Contributions: Mosaic Cancer Care-Albany in care of the Roberson-Polley Chapel.
