Kathleen Ellen Gallagher
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Memorial services for Kathleen Ellen Gallagher, 41, Lawrence, will be held on Sunday, July 21, 2024 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence, Kansas. There will be a viewing and visitation with family at 1:00 PM preceding the 2:00 PM service. A reception will follow at 3:30 PM at Arterra Event Gallery, 2161 Quail Creek Drive, Lawrence KS 66047. Kathleen passed away on Friday, July 12, 2024.
Kathleen was born on July 21, 1982 in Lafayette, IN, the daughter of Neal Charles Gallagher, Jr. and Claire (McCardell) Gallagher.
Kathleen attended West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School in Indiana. In high school, she was a member of the swim team for four years. She qualified for the state meet in both her junior and senior years. She was a 2005 graduate from the University of Colorado and earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design.
After graduating from CU, Kathleen lived in Denver, CO and Philadelphia, PA before moving to Lawrence, KS where she has lived for the last eight years. In Lawrence, she worked across the country doing event setup for Janek Services. She also briefly worked for TK Architecture in Kansas City.
While in Lawrence, Kathleen periodically served as a volunteer for Penn House and the Mobile Food Pantry at the 4-H Fairgrounds.
Survivors include her mother, Claire Gallagher and her mother’s partner, Michael Lickteig, of Lawrence KS; her father, Neal Gallagher, Jr., his wife Angela and their children, Neal and Maura, of Orlando FL; a brother Sean, his wife Ashley, and their two children, Brayden, 4 and Sophia, 2, of Swedesboro NJ; a brother Andrew and his partner, Jessica Weatherford, of Lafayette IN. Kathleen also leaves behind her dearest friend, Jim Pickard, and their three cats.
Memorial contributions may be made in Kathleen’s name to the Ballard Center, a local non-profit agency, and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044. Contributions can also be made directly to the Ballard Center at www.ballardcenter.org.
Kathleen brought so many fun swimming memories in High School. She could have you belly laughing at her witty jokes. The pictures we have together ,we are always laughing are smiling bc we shared such fun times together. I have a picture of us both wearing the same cap, googles, swim suits and we look so similar. I will always treasure our friendship, memories, wit, humor, and kindness. Prayers to all her family. 🙏 ❤️
Kathleen was my niece and I loved her very much. We would talk on messenger. She was my friend and I will miss her. Condolences and prayers to family and friends.
Dearest Claire,
We all wrap our arms around you at this very difficult time. ♥️🙏♥️
With much love and much sadness
Nancy and Bob
Kathleen was a dear friend. We met in architecture school and I will always remember her creativity, dedication and truly inspirational critical thinking. I am so lucky to have known her and to have been able to call her my friend. Sending my love to her family.
I’m very sorry to hear this I knew her for a short time she was always polite and a very cool woman she will be missed
Dear Claire,
I’m so sorry.
Peace be with you and your family,
Nancy
Kat was my friend from Architecture school in Boulder, Colorado. She was so much fun to be around and usually had an interesting and funny perspective on things. I will miss her dearly.
I worked at with Kathleen repeatedly over the last two years and I always tried to keep her on my team whenever she was there. She was one of my favorite people. And although I didn’t know her for long, she will be sorely missed. I’m so sorry.
Kathleen was a friend of my daughter. They met in fourth grade and maintained a friendship throughout school. We viewed her as our second daughter.
Our family was blessed to have Kathleen in our home frequently. We loved her and enjoyed her company. We shared several common interests, and laughed a great deal at our shared view of the absurdities of the world.
Most of our good memories in those years involved Kathleen in some way, as we considered her a part of our family.
Her capacity for loving and forgiving was amazing! She was sensitive to others’ feelings and needs, and always seemed to put others ahead of herself. It was a privilege to watch her grow into a lovely woman, and a honor to have been one of her friends. She will always be with us through our happy memories of her. We are so grateful her parents were willing to share her with us. She brought us great joy.
Kathleen befriended me in elementary school when I was the new kid without any friends. She was my best friend for years. She had such a tender heart for others. Our lives headed in different directions as we reached adulthood, and sadly we drifted apart, although I would think of her often. I know she’s in loving arms now. My love and condolences to Claire, Sean, Andrew and Neal.
I am truly sorry for your loss and my heart goes out to your family in this difficult time.
I hope they investigated this as a homicide until they rule it out. Foul play is involved in many drownings. She deserves an investigation.