Arthur Douglas Gillespie

Arthur Douglas Gillespie of Carolina Shores, North Carolina, with his loving wife of 53 years, Patricia, by his side passed away at 6:30 pm on Thursday, March 7th, 2024, from complications related to his battle with cancer, he was 79 years old.

Born on October 9th, 1944 in Brooklyn, New York, Arthur, an only child, was raised by his Mother, Annabell Naylor, his Grandmother Anna, Aunts Dorothy and Ruthie in Brooklyn were he attended and graduated High School and served in the United States Naval Reserves from 1967 to 1971.

In 1968 he met Patricia Ann Olsen, also of Brooklyn New York at the “Camelot Inn,” and on September 5th, 1970 they were married at St. Vincent Ferrer, in Brooklyn, New York. Over the next few years they were blessed with two daughters Alene on May 31st, 1971 and Theresa on October 2nd, 1973, before moving to Bohemia, New York, on Long Island, in November of 1975, where they purchased their first home and added two sons to their family, Timothy born on February 21st, 1977 and Micheal on April 19th, 1982.

From 1971 to 1995 Arthur worked for the Long Island Rail Road, first as a Transit Police Officer and then as a Yardmaster until his retirement. Following his retirement from the Long Island Rail Road, Arthur opened his own hobby shop in Bohemia, New York called “Yardmaster Hobbies,” which he operated until its closing in 2004. At which time he entered into full retirement.

On July 2nd, 1995 Arthur became a grandfather for the first time with the birth of Matthew. He would become a grandparent five more times with the births of Amanda, Robin, Molly, Philip and Zachary.

In 2013 Arthur and Patricia sold their home in Bohemia, New York and moved to Carolina Shores, North Carolina.

Arthur has had two great passions in his life, trains and Christmas. Arthur has collected and built several elaborate model train layouts in several scales from “Z” to “O,” only taking breaks in late November to decorate every inch of his homes with Christmas decorations while blasting Christmas Songs!

Arthrur was never the most outgoing person but he had an quirky and dry sense of humor with a genuine creative spark that went into his layouts and decorations. Arthur loved his family and would express that love in the only way he knew how, with snarky comments and teasing, but the old man could take it too and was never prouder than when someone, especially his children got one up on him!

Arthur leaves behind him a wife, four children, six grandchildren, and plenty of friends and family that will miss him terribly. We all owe it to his memory to be a little sillier, a little kinder and a lot more creative in our loves, whatever they may be!

In lieu of gifts or flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Cancer Society or St. Jude’s Hospital.