Walter Allen Gillispie

Walt Gillispie was born in Moberly, Missouri and was a long time resident of Liberty, Missouri. He is preceded in death by his parents Joyce and Jerry Gillispie. Walt is survived by his his high school sweetheart, wife, Joni (Clevenger) and son, Zachary Gillispie; his four siblings, Sheila Walters of Moberly, Jim Gillispie(Debbie) of Lee’s Summitt, Tammy Gillispie, and Tracy Gillispie of Kansas City, Missouri; his nephews, Brandon and Chris Walters, Brian Gillispie, and his niece, April (John) King, great nieces, Allison and Haylee and his great nephew, Barrett.

While Walt attended Liberty High School and the Vocational School in Excelsior Springs, he found his love of carpentry. He spent the next 50 years in construction as a roofer, roughing in houses, a trim carpenter, a cabinet maker, remodeler and a deck builder. Walt also enjoyed working at Antigen Laboratories for Tom Willoughby and later for the Liberty Public School System at South Valley Middle School.

After many years of working as a carpenter, Walt’s creative spirit led him to his greatest passion: the potter's wheel. His glazed and wood fired pottery earned him local recognition at regional exhibits and art shows. He also spread his knowledge as a studio tech at William Jewell college introducing countless students to the meditative joy of working with their hands in clay. Walt came up with inventive ideas for using wood and carpenter tools to add design to his pottery. One was called, The Slap Stick, which he and his friend, John Pence partnered in producing and selling.

Walt was an avid outdoorsman and conservationist. He enjoyed hunting turkeys so much that he purchased acreage in northern Missouri. He and his wife planted over 800 trees in two years to improve the habitat on the property. Walt loved fishing and camping even as a teenager with his best friends, Neil, Pat and Kevin. At his home in Liberty Walt enjoyed watching the deer, fox and coyote off his deck. He would spend the evening calling in crows and owls. He had a quirky sense of humor and would many times use turkey calls to confuse neighbors.

The hands that shaped both wood and clay into objects of breathtaking beauty have finally come to rest after an extended battle with Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Bodies Dementia. Walt’s immediate family will have a private gathering upon his request at Retro Bowl. There will be a get together later celebrating Walt’s life in May for extended family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.

The family would like to thank Dr.R. Huyser and staff for the many years of care. Another doctor to thank would be his neurologist, Dr.Hollenbeck. Also, we’d like to thank the Harbor Hospice team and the nurses as well as the staff at Liberty Hospital, East third floor, for their love, prayers and support during Walt’s time at home.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.