Obituary of Elizabeth Ann Gallagher

In Loving Memory of

Elizabeth Ann Gallagher

April 6, 1948 - November 14, 2023

Elizabeth Ann (Liz) Gallagher passed away on November 14, 2023, at Via Elegante Tucson Mountains Assisted Living Community.

Liz lived most of her life in Texas. She was born in Temple, TX. She spent her childhood years in San Antonio, TX and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School (1966). She went on to attend the University of Texas at Austin. She obtained a BA in Education from UT (Austin, 1970) and went on to teach in middle schools and high schools in Dallas, Houston and Austin, TX. Liz ended her teaching career in 2010 after serving for many years as a Team Leader at Clint Middle School in Austin. Liz and Hank (her husband; marriage 1970) owned the Udder Delight Ice Cream shop in Austin, TX.

In August, 2019, Liz suffered a Subarachnoid Cerebral Hemorrhage and received the devastating medical diagnosis that she had Frontotemporal (FTD) dementia. In Fall, 2019, Liz moved to Tucson, Arizona, where her sister Carol and brother-in-law (Ken) Cantor helped to provide care for her during her courageous struggle with FTD.

Liz lived a full life. She was an intelligent and loving child, sister, wife, mother and friend. She fulfilled her childhood dreams of someday becoming a teacher, wife, mother and friend to a multitude of people. She loved her family and friends, cooking, gardening, art and having family and friends over for her wonderful home cooked meals. She and her husband (Hank) enjoyed many aviation adventures together in Hank's RV6 aircraft. They both also loved entertaining. Together they hosted dozens of meals and annual Fourth of July Barbeque dinners for friends and family at their home. As a retiree, Liz was a member of DKG (Delta Kappa Gamma; a Society for Outstanding Women Educators), a member of the Texas Retired Teachers Association and a member of a local walking club. She contributed to helping family and friends who were dealing with serious illness or end of life issues.

Once Liz moved to Tucson, she wasable to enjoy Arts and Crafts at her community, hikes in Sabino Canyon, walks along the Rillito River path,

recumbent tandem cycling, visits to the local zoo and visits to her sister's home.

Liz is preceded in death by her husband Hank (Joseph Henry Gallagher) and her parents (George P. and Etta Corinne Crutsinger). She is survived by: Son, Joseph Patrick Gallagher. Sister and brother-in-law: Carol and Ken Cantor. Cousins, Rachelle Hardin-Moniz, Sam Hardin, Paula Frazier and Amanda Michanczyk (all of their children and grandchildren) and Godson; Gareth Deakes.

Liz's family wishes to extend sincere gratitude to all of the people at Casa de la Luz Hospice, Via Elegante Tucson Mtns Assisted Living, Hacienda at the Canyon Sr Living Community, and Bayada Home Health who helped provide care for Liz during the final years of her life. We mourn that Liz is no longer part of our daily lives. Yet we know that memories of her loving spirit and memories of so many fun (and/or educational) moments with her will always remain close within our hearts.

In Lieu of flowers, the family requests that any contributions in Liz's memory be given directly to a local charity of your choice, the Association for FrontoTemporal Degeneration, or Plant a Tree in her memory.

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