Mary Ellen Gallagher's Obituary
Mary Ellen Gallagher
1930-2020
Mary Ellen Gallagher passed away on October 5 in Salt Lake City, just shy of her 90th birthday, from complications of COVID-19.
Mary Ellen was born in Toronto, Ontario. At the University of Toronto, she pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, becoming chapter president before graduating in 1951. She was hired as an airline stewardess for American Airlines, based in New York City. That’s where she met her husband Edward J. Gallagher. They married in 1954.
Mary Ellen and Ed lived on Long Island, in Massapequa Park, until 1968 when Ed was transferred to Las Vegas. They loved the desert Southwest and especially enjoyed the many friends, activities and entertainments they found in Las Vegas.
Mary Ellen was a natural leader, rising to serve in nearly every organization she joined.
She was active with the Frontier Girl Scout Council, University United Methodist Church, Green Valley United Methodist Church, The Kiwi Club, the Kappa Kappa Gamma alumni chapter, and the Cedarwood Resident Council. Perhaps her proudest volunteer role was with the Las Vegas Mesquite Club, where she was a member for more than 20 years and served a term as president.
Mary Ellen also loved singing. She performed in college musical productions, church choirs and in her later years as a member of the Silver Songbirds at Hilltop United Methodist Church.
Other passions were bridge and knitting. She was a highly competent contract bridge player and knitted until the time she died. She also loved to read, and always had a book or two underway.
In 2015 Mary Ellen left Las Vegas and moved to Sandy, Utah, to be closer to her family. She and Ed had two children: Dorothy “Dotti” Gallagher (Brian Minnich) and William “Bill” Gallagher (Debbie). She is survived by both children, grandchildren Katrina Gallagher MacDonald (Danny) and Jessica Gallagher Werner (Lloyd), and three great grandchildren, Liam, Lucas and Anne.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Harrison and Mary Roos and her brother Robert Roos.
The family will celebrate Mary Ellen’s life in a private ceremony at their beloved family cabin in Duck Creek Village, Utah, next spring.
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