Cary Ruffin Gillespie Wilson

Cary Ruffin Gillespie Wilson, age 55, passed away on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, in Heber City, Utah.

She was born in Sherman, Texas, on April 14, 1970. Growing up in Sherman, Cary enjoyed playing piano, attending dance classes, and cheering on the Sherman Bearcats. Cary attended and graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in Government with a minor in English. After graduating from college, she returned to her hometown and earned her Lifetime Texas Secondary Education Teacher’s Certificate and Master of Arts in Teaching from Austin College in 1994.

Upon graduating, Cary began working for the Plano Independent School District as an English teacher at Wilson Middle School. She taught for over six years and spent several years working with an interdisciplinary team to develop a curriculum based on brain development and the creation of cognitive connections, aligning and integrating subjects for middle school students.

While at the University of Texas, Cary met her husband, Lance Wilson. They were married on June 21, 1997, at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Sherman. The Wilson Family relocated from Dallas, Texas, to Peachtree City, Georgia, following the birth of their first two daughters. Shortly after the move, their third daughter was born.

Cary volunteered at her daughters’ schools. She dedicated over 15 years to leading Girl Scout Troops for her daughters and their friends. Cary served as the director of Girl Scout Day Camp Loblolly for five consecutive summers. She was a devout mentor who supported several members of her troops in earning their Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouts USA, and numerous other scouts through the Gold Award Scholarship Fund that she created for Camp Loblolly attendees and volunteers.

Following her tenure as Camp Loblolly director, Cary worked at the Peachtree City United Methodist Church Weekday School for ten years, eight years as a teacher and two years as the Director of the Weekday School.

In her free time, Cary enjoyed sipping coffee with her daughters, seeing movies with her husband, and working on craft projects, including tie-dying shirts with her nephews and hand-making Christmas ornaments. She also enjoyed annual beach trips and traveling the world with her family. Cary was known for her keen sense of humor, infectious laughter, and commitment to motherhood.

Cary was preceded in death by her father, Campbell Houston Gillespie, III.

Cary is survived by her husband, Lance, and their daughters, Caryanne, Elizabeth, and Sarah Wilson, her mother, Mary Gillespie of Sherman, Texas, and her sister, Maryanna Pearson of Boerne, Texas.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at First Presbyterian Church, Peachtree City. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall. To honor Cary, her family invites you to wear any shade of blue and fun sneakers.

Memorial donations may be made to one of the following organizations: the Society for Women’s Health Research or First Book. The Society for Women’s Health Research reflects Cary’s passion for creating a more equitable future for her daughters through research, policy, and education that address gaps in women’s health. First Book supports increased access to education for all children, regardless of circumstance, echoing Cary’s lifelong commitment to educational service.

1. Society for Women’s Health Research
2. Attn: Development Department 
3. 1025 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 1104 
4. Washington, DC 20036
5. 
   
6. First Book: 
7. 1319 F St. NW, Suite 1000
8. Washington, DC 20004