Elizabeth M. ‘Liz’ Gallagher of Sarasota, Fla.
Elizabeth M. “Liz” Gallagher, of Sarasota, Fla., formerly a longtime resident of Kingston, N.Y., passed away unexpectedly but peacefully at her home.
She was affectionately known to her family as Bammy Biz, Bee, and Sammy. Liz was born in Kingston, N.Y., daughter of the late Edgar W. and Ann R. Harlow (nee Coughlin). She attended local schools and graduated from Kingston High School in 1956. After graduation from high school she attended and graduated from the Benedictine School of Nursing and New Paltz State College. She married the love of her life, Joseph P. Gallagher in 1959. He preceded her in death in 2007. She worked for Benedictine Hospital, MJM Junior High School, and Ulster County Nursing Home, retiring in 2007. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Kingston and St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Sarasota.
Liz led a very full and active life. Over the years she enjoyed participating in various activities with her children and grandchildren. She loved to travel locally and abroad with her family and visited many different countries. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt and her smile and vivacious personality were infectious. Whenever she would walk into a room she would light it up. Liz became a part-time resident at Mobile Estates in 2001 and became a permanent resident in 2007 after her retirement. She loved her community in Sarasota and made many friends there over the years and could be found at the pool anytime the temperature was above 65 degrees-which was 90% of the time and she loved to let her New York friends know! But her biggest love after her retirement was being able to spend time with her children and grandchildren whom she loved dearly and they adored her in return. Her death leaves a huge void that can never be filled, but we are blessed to have so many great memories to cherish in our hearts forever!
A memorial mass will be held 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 3, 2018, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Flowers are gratefully declined and those wishing may make a contribution in memory of Liz Gallagher to the Make A Wish Foundation, North Texas Chapter, (https://tinyurl.com/northtexaswish).
In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Joseph Gallagher, and a sister, Margaret Harlow Schlotzhauer.
She is survived by her children, Nancy Gallagher and her husband, Mike “Soup” Campbell, Plano, Texas, Sharon Gallagher and her husband, Stan Kelson, Mooresville, N.C., Patrick Gallagher and his wife, Nancy Nieves, Putnam Valley, N.Y., Katie Gallagher Bernier and her husband, Jim, Orlando, Fla.; grandchildren, Chad and Kristianna Kelson-Gallagher, Mooresville, N.C., Joseph and Kenley Bernier, Orlando, Fla.; sisters, Marianne Razey, Cobleskill, N.Y., JoDell Kotrady and her husband, George, St. Augustine, Fla.; brother, Edgar J. Harlow and his wife, Audrey, Pittsboro, N.C.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are under the care of St. Johns Family Funeral Home, St. Augustine, Fla.