Gregory O. Gallagher

CALAIS - Gregory Oscar Gallagher, son of William and Dorothy ( Hamilton ) Gallagher, died in his sleep on Sept. 4, 2009, at home in Calais.

Greg was born April 16, 1936, in Boston, Mass. He attended the Rivers Country Day School located outside of Boston, where his father taught English. He also attended Wentworth Institute in Boston. Greg and his parents lived in Wellesley, Mass. and spent summers at their family home in Maple Corner, where he met Harriet Irene Morse. Greg and Harriet were married at the Old West Church on Sept. 9, 1956.

Greg worked for the Coca Cola Company in Barre, and also started and operated his own vending machine business. In 1962, he sold his company and lived and worked in New Hampshire, Michigan, and New York before moving back to Maple Corner in 1971. He returned to work for Coca Cola, where he was employed for a total of 20 years. He was also employed at Ormsby's Appliances in Barre as their service manager. Greg then changed careers and worked for many years as a loan originator for Vermont Federal Bank, BankNorth, Northwest Mortgage Co. and the Granite Savings Bank until his retirement in 1995. Greg was the top loan originator in Vermont for several years running.

Greg loved to travel all over the U.S. and Canada with his wife in their RV. He particularly loved spending summers in Prince Edward Island. He enjoyed bluegrass and fiddle music, dancing with Harriet, good food, and joking around with family and friends. Greg and Harriet also enjoyed attending many community functions together. Greg enjoyed playing the stock market, and was pretty good at it, too.

Greg is survived by his wife of 53 years, Harriet; three children: Steven (and Sarah Myers) Gallagher, Jeffrey (and Barbara Paine) Gallagher, of Calais and Heather Gallagher Holmes (and Gary Benjamin) of Woodbury; six grandchildren: Madison and Caleb Holmes, Isaac Gallagher, Jamie and Cameron Moorby, and Sarah Paine; his brother, Phillip (and Pat) Cook, and many nieces and nephews. Greg will also be sadly missed by the family dog, Gypsy.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Greg's memory to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641 or at www.cvhhh.org. A memorial service will be held at the Old West Church in Calais on Sept. 20, 2009, at 2 p.m. A reception will follow at the Maple Corner Community Center.

Those wishing to send private on-line condolences may do so at www.guareandsons.com and go to Greg's obituary.