JAMES EUGENE GALLAGHER
October 29, 1943 – March 17, 2011
Sandy resident Jim Gallagher died at home in Sandy, Oregon, surrounded by loved ones on St. Patrick’s Day, Wednesday, March 17, 2011. He was 67. A tribute to and celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2011; 1:00 p.m. at Sandy Funeral Home in Sandy, Oregon. Private inurnment at Willamette National Cemetery.
Jim was born October 29, 1943, in Watsonville, California, to Edward A. and Marjorie (Plasker) Gallagher, and grew up in Santa Clara, California. After graduating from Santa Clara High School in 1961, he entered the United States Coast Guard and proudly served aboard the Cutters WINONA and IVY during the Vietnam era. He used the GI Bill to earn his degree in Fire Science from Chemeketa Community College, Salem, Oregon, where he also served on the Advisory Board for the Fire Science curriculum as the representative for the State Fire Marshal’s office from 1974 to 1978.
In July, 1965, Jim began a 29 year career in the Oregon Fire Service, serving as a firefighter and then as Fire Marshal in Astoria, Oregon until October, 1971. He was then employed as Deputy State Fire Marshal by the State of Oregon until March, 1978, when he accepted the Fire Marshal position with Sandy RFPD #72, retiring from Sandy Fire Department in 1994.
Jim married Bonnie Jean Lippincott on August 22, 1980 in Portland, Oregon. After retirement, Jim and Bonnie enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, as well as England and Ireland, as they furthered their joint interest in genealogy. For several years, they hosted the Lippincott Family Reunion at their home in Sandy, when 100 of Bonnie’s close extended family arrived from all over the country and England to celebrate the “Gathering of the Clan” – the Lippincotts embraced Jim as one of their own the day he and Bonnie were married.
He and Bonnie continued to be active in various Coast Guard groups, including the USCG WINONA WPG/WHEC-65 CREWS’ ASSOCIATION, BERING SEA PATROL ALASKA VETERANS ASSOCIATION, and the OSWEGO CLASS 255 CUTTERS’ ASSOCIATION . Jim was Co-Chair of the USCG WINONA ALL CREWS REUNION in Port Angeles, Washington as he assisted his former shipmate and good friend Cliff in hosting the reunion of this amazing group. For 9 years, he was editor of the “SHIP’S BELL” newsletter for the USCG WINONA. Bonnie contributed by designing and making commemorative quilts for these Coast Guard Associations.
Jim also delighted in working on the restoration of their 1941 Lincoln Zephyr, which will be enjoyed by others as he and Bonnie have gifted it to the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum in Hood River.
For the past 26 years, Jim and Bonnie have been restoring “Fiddler’s Green”, their 100-year old cabin on the Oregon Coast. This past Fall, he assembled a team of incredible friends to help complete the last major part of the restoration. With the assistance of David, Mark, Jeff, wife Bonnie and brother-in-law Jim, who called themselves “Gentleman Jim’s Beach Moth Brigade”, the restoration was completely finished in time for Jim to enjoy this cabin he loved so much several more times before he “traveled on ahead”.
Jim is survived by his beloved wife, Bonnie, of Sandy, Oregon; and brother-in-law, James E. Lippincott, Jr. of Cook, Washington.
Memorial donations can be made to Harrison Pioneer Cemetery, c/o Judith Goldmann, 32455 N.W. Padgett Road, Hillsboro, Oregon 97124.