Verne Lucinda McCann Gillespie was born in Wisconsin on February 18, 1901. By the 1960s Gillespie had moved to southern California. She was a long-time resident of 29 Palms, California where she taught small painting classes. Called Queen of Desert Painting, she was well-acquainted with every plant, tree, flower, and critter in the desert. She died in Riverside County, California on June 18, 1980.
Not to be confused with Gladys Marie Baxter Duckworth (194-1981) who signed her work "Verne".
Exhibited: 29 Palms Artists Guild, 1964; Riverside County's National Date Festival, 1968.
Source: Edan Hughes,
"Artists in California, 1786-1940"Death record.
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