Marjorie Irene (Marge) Branyan Gillespie departed to her Heavenly home on November 1, All Saints’ Day.

Marge was born to the late Kenneth and Mabel Branyan in Assumption Illinois on April 27, 1930. She was raised on the family farm, and graduated from Assumption High School and Sparks Business College.

Marge moved with her family to Fort Myers in 1960. She was a stay-at-home mom, homemaker, and a talented seamstress. This gift led her to establish a very successful sewing and slipcover business. She did sewing jobs for many interior decorators and Lee County families. She later on went to enjoy working for Dr. Gene Cox for 36 years, retiring at the age of 85.

Marge loved to work outside in her yard, she would love to bake you your favorite dessert, and even take on a sewing job. She played Canasta with her group of friends for over 50 years. She also loved to travel, she absolutely loved Ireland, Alaska, and she went on a special trip to China, where she climbed the Great Wall. One of her proudest moments is when she completed her goal of sewing more than 1,000 children’s dresses that were distributed through the mission work of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church’s sewing ministry.

She is survived by her two daughters, Kathy Benjamin (Ed), Phyllis Jackman (Tom); her son-in-law John Lewis; her sister Janet Tolly; her grandchildren, Jacqui (Brian) Newman, Jennifer (Paul) Canton, Kelly (Matt) Welborn, Loren Bellizia, Kristen (AJ) Roper, Julie (Devon) Manno, Louis (Katherine) Garofalo; her 15 great-grandchildren; her godson Ryan King; her special friends and caregiver Shelley Bumm and Linda Cox; other family members, neighbors, and friends who will forever hold her memory close.

Marge was proceeded in death by her parents, her husband R.L. Gillespie, and her beloved daughter Bonnie Jean Lewis.

A Celebration of Life service will be held in early 2027. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice in Marge’s memory.