Mary E. (Gillespie) Youngkin (2021)

GILLESPIE, YOUNGKIN

Posted By: Shirley Keating
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:04:36

Larkin Mortuary
260 East South Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah

Mary E. Youngkin

Salt Lake City, UT—Mary E. Youngkin passed away on July 11, 2021 at her home in Salt Lake City, Utah. A dear friend and colleague, she is survived by her brothers, Tom Gillespie of Winterset, Iowa and Dan Gillespie of Glen Allen, Virginia and his family. She was preceded in death by her parents Leo and Jean Gillespie.

Mary graduated from University of Iowa, B.A. with a teaching certificate in English and later obtained her Masters in Library Science from Brigham Young University. She was member of the modern dance group, RDT2 in the 1980's. She retired as Librarian Emeritus in 2011 after 36 years at the Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library at the University of Utah, serving as head of Reference and Public Services since the late 1980's, where her commitment to teaching, service and student success remain legendary. Mary's passion and knowledge for gardening and history of medicine intertwined when she started the Library's Medicinal Garden with plants from her own garden. She leaves behind many friends and colleagues and a legacy of kindness, warmth, and humor. Her avid enthusiasm for live music, especially 'them blues' widened her circle of humanity. Dance on Mary! Listen to music, preferably live, in celebration of her life. "All acts of kindness are lights in the war for justice." – Joy Harjo

A celebration of life will be scheduled later this Fall.

Donations can be made to: Eccles Health Sciences Library Medicinal Garden or Utah Blues Society or Tree Utah
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Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Mary Gillespie Youngkin

Mary Youngkin died in her sleep on July 12, 2021, at her home in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Mary Elizabeth Gillespie was born July 20, 1949, at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. Mary Beth attended Winterset Community Schools and graduated with the class of 1967. She was active in chorus and played the flute in marching and concert band.

She attended Iowa State University and completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in English at the University of Iowa in 1972. She later earned a Masters degree in Library Science from Brigham Young University. In 1968 Mary married Douglas Youngkin. After graduation at the University of Iowa and two years in Larimie, Wy., the couple moved to Salt Lake City. Soon after arrival Mary began working in the library systems of the University of Utah. She retired in 2012 after more than 35 years of service. For the majority of that time she was Chief Reference Librarian at the University of Utah Medical Library.

Mary was an avid gardener and active in the Master Gardeners Program. She served many terms on the Community Garden Board. Mary loved cats and dogs, especially very large dogs. She and Doug had Irish Setters and Irish Wolfhounds, among the tallest of breeds. More recently Mary had Ian, a Scottish Deerhound. Many of you met the gentle grey giant during Mary’s frequent visits to Winterset for Covered Bridge Festival and Christmas.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jean and Leo Gillespie. She is survived by her brothers, Tom and Dan Gillespie; Dan’s spouse, Marcella Dwyer Gillespie; niece, Devin; nephew, Logan Gillespie.

Mary loved to travel and support live music. She combined these interests by going on numerous “Blues Cruises” with the likes of Buddy Guy, Ta Mahal and Keb Mo with her many friends from around the country and the world.

When the couple separated after more than 20 years, Mary retrained her married surname, the one by which she is known in her professional circles.