Sara Jane Gallaugher quietly slipped from this life to the next on Monday morning, March 13, 2023. Sara resided on Brush Creek Drive, Columbus, Indiana in the summers and in Ft. Myers, Florida in the winters. Sara was born on December 20, 1941 in Ironton, Ohio, the daughter of Donald George and Hazel Richards. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Gordon Eugene Shaffer and Ralph Gallaugher; her son, Thomas Allen Shaffer; and her parents.
Sara grew up in the small village of Coal Grove, Ohio where she attended schools in the Dawson Bryant School District, graduating from Dawson Bryant High School in 1959. She lived in South Point, Georgetown, Reynoldsburg, and London, Ohio. She also had homes in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, and Clearwater and Madeira Beach, Florida. Sara was a registered nurse, working most of her career as a surgical nurse. She earned her LPN and went ahead to earn her RN from the Columbus Technical Institute, Columbus, Ohio in 1976.
Sara is survived by her companion of 10 years, James C. Dudley; her son, Mark David Shaffer of Seminole, Florida; granddaughter, Jennifer (Jeff) Johnson; grandson Jensen (Kim) Shaffer; great-grandson, Max Johnson; sister Nancy (James) Fallon; and several nieces, nephews, great nephews, and great nieces. She was Godmother to her great niece, Lilianna Skelton and she had a very special relationship with her former daughter-in-law Deanna Fuller and Deanna’s daughter Emma.
Sara was a loyal Ohio State Buckeye fan, cheering their teams on and going on several of their cruises. Her biggest thrills on the cruises came when she met some of the football players and coaches. She loved to travel and visited many locations both on this continent and in Europe.
Sara has touched many lives over the years with her caring ways. She made friends everywhere she went and was always ready with a smile and a helping hand. If you were Sara’s friend, you had a friend for life. She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Thursday March 23, 2023 at 11:00 AM at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church. Rev. Clement T. Davis will be celebrant. Inurnment will be at a later date in Florida.
Memorials in Sara’s name are suggested to the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 700 Children’s Dr., Columbus, OH 43205.
Please leave a fond memory of Sara or a condolence for the family at www.Hathaway-Myers.com.
Hathaway-Myers Chapel on Pearl St. is serving the Gallaugher family.
