John "Jack" Gallagher

Atwater, California - John Francis Gallagher was born on January 26,1936 in Chico California and passed away at home on November 16, 2024. Jack was the oldest of five brothers. He attended high school at Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose and attended the University of San Francisco. He proudly served in the United States Army where he trained as a Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington DC. Following his time in the Army, Jack briefly lived in San Jose CA. It was there that he was introduced to his wife, Shirley, who was working for IBM at the time. Although Jack and Shirley were both born and raised three streets away from each other in Merced, it was in San Jose that they met on a blind date arranged by mutual friends.

After Jack and Shirley married, they both decided to return to Merced to raise their family on a farm. Together with his father-in-law, they purchased the Baleme Ranch. Jack and Shirley raised four very independent daughters on this ranch.

Jack was passionate about giving back to the community that helped mentor and guide him as he was starting out. He was a McSwain School Board Trustee where he served as past School Board President, a leader in the McSwain 4-H Club and was a member of the committee that built the new Merced County Library on M Street. Jack was a past member of the Knights of Columbus and Merced Elks, as well as a current member of the Catholic Young Men's Institute.

Jack is survived by his brother Tom and his four daughters: Maureen (William) Long; Kathleen Roberts; Sheila (Michael) Price; Wendy (Patrick) Saleen, grandchildren Michael & Elizabeth, Lauren & Giulia, Taylor (Briana) & Allyson (Ben) and great grandson, Owen. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Frank & Minnie Ellen (d'Artenay); brothers Leo, Mickey & Stephen and the love of his life for almost 60 years, Shirley.

A memorial mass will be held for both Jack & Shirley at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 3003 N. Buhach Rd., Atwater, CA on Friday, January 17, 2025 at 10 a.m.

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