Rita Jane Dugas Gillespie

Rita Jane Dugas Gillespie, 87, of Nederland, died Sunday, May 12, 2019. She was born on January 3, 1932, in Port Arthur, to Edith Barras Dugas and Etienne Mack Dugas. 

Survivors include her daughter, Donna Brown and her husband, Billy, of Liberty; sons, Ersline “Jim” Gillespie of Bevil Oaks and Kirk Gillespie of Nederland; grandchildren, Evan Brown and his wife, Jessica; Ethan Brown and his wife, JoLee; Eric Brown; Tommy Gillespie and his wife, Courtney; Michelle Kilgus and her husband, Joseph; Stacey Gillespie; Lindsey Gillespie; and Tara Gillespie; great-grandchildren, Kaden, Carter, Sam, Addison, Livi, and Lexi Brown; Audrey and Abbey Lanier; Jaycee Brown; Aron and Layton Shellhammer; Obrey, Marin, and Iain Kilgus; Charles Brown; and Stevi Gillespie; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, E.T. “Sam” Gillespie; and siblings, Leonard Dugas, Ovide Dugas, Daniel Dugas, Anne Lemoine, Melba Wells, Claudia Landry, and Verna Evans.

A gathering of Mrs. Gillespie’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland. Her funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 16, 2019, at First United Methodist Church, 1300 Nederland Avenue, Nederland, with her interment following at Oak Bluff Memorial Park, Port Neches.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Gillespie’s memory to Alzheimer’s Association, 700 North Street, Suite M, Beaumont, Texas 77701.