George Gillespie

Written By Carla Olson

George Gillespie released "Cow Camp Songs Of The Old West” in 1961 – a great cowboy LP recorded by Niblack "Bill" Thorne for his Thorne Record Co. label in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Album cover for Georgie's "Cow Camp Songs of the Old West"
Back cover of George's "Cow Camp Songs of the Old West"

Born in 1902 in Tennessee, George moved to Arizona at the age of 20 to cure a bad case of asthma. Within a few years he was working as a guide at Castle Hot Springs resort where he built a vast repertoire of cowboy tunes.

George passed away in 1970 in Phoenix, Arizona where he had retired from the real estate business.

A few weeks ago I located his grave site at Greenwood Cemetery in Phoenix. George is buried next to his wife, Helen, who for a time had been president of the Phoenix Symphony Guild. Helen shares a gravestone with her sister, Florence.

George's 1970 Obituary in the Arizona Republic

George’s 1970 Obituary in the Arizona Republic

George Gillespie's headstone

George Gillespie’s headstone

Helen Gillespie headstone shared with her sister Florence

Helen Gillespie’s headstone that she shares with her sister Florence Brown

George's grave marker in the Greenwood Cemetery, Phoenix AZ

George was laid to rest in the Greenwood Cemetery, Phoenix, Arizona

George and Helen are buried next to each other

Carla Olson https://cimarron-creative.com
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