Maureen Gallagher

Maureen was born on September 11, 1953, at Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas, to Kathleen Hodges Gallagher and Lee Mitchell Gallagher.

Maureen spent her youth along the beaches of Corpus Christi, often with her sisters by her side. Her early days by the coast shaped a lifelong love for nature and family. Known for her sharp mind and determination, Maureen excelled in school and was inducted into the National Honor Society before attending The University of Texas at Austin. While at U.T., she made lifelong friends; discovered her love of hiking and backpacking, which deepened her love of nature; and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in pharmacy in 1976.

Maureen went on to build a rewarding career as a pharmacist, taking great pride in her professional accomplishments—particularly owning her own business and operating three pharmacies in the Georgetown, Texas area. Dedicated to never allowing the status quo to dictate her path, she specialized in compounded pharmaceuticals to offer unique treatments for her patients’ individual needs. Her work was marked not only by professional excellence but also by compassion and dedication to her community. Maureen connected with her customers on a personal level and always made them feel welcome and comfortable in her pharmacy—so much so that one of her clients, a member of one of the best-selling rock ’n’ roll bands of all time, invited her to Las Vegas for a show.

Maureen raised her two children, Sarah and Jesse, in Pflugerville, Texas. Some of her fondest memories were family vacations with Sarah and Jesse, as well as adventures with friends. She frequently reminisced about backpacking trips with college friends; a trip to Alaska to visit those friends and to explore the state with her children; Sierra Club trips to Colorado, where she climbed a 14,000-foot mountain in her 40s; and a special trip to Ireland and England so that her children could see some of their heritage. Proud of her Irish roots, Maureen never missed an opportunity to enjoy traditional Irish folk music, often seeking out pubs in cities she visited, where she could listen, laugh, and sing along.

In retirement, Maureen followed her love of nature and the mountains, relocating to Fort Davis, Texas, where she enjoyed the wide open spaces and mountain views from her back porch with her late in life love, Tony Pidgeon, whom she married in 2016.

Her greatest joy in her later years was being “Grandmama” to her two grandchildren, James and Jeanne, who brought light and laughter into her life. Despite the distance from beautiful West Texas, she always made an effort to be in Dallas for big moments in her grandbabies’ lives.

She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Maureen is preceded in death by her parents, Kathleen and Lee Gallagher.

She is survived by her daughter, Sarah Cromwell, of Olympia, Washington; her son, Jesse Cromwell, his wife, Elizabeth Cromwell, and their children, James and Jeanne, of Dallas, Texas; her sisters, Kathleen Ruffu of Corpus Christi, Texas, and her husband, Rusty Ruffu and Lee Ann Gallagher of Caldwell, Texas; her nephew, Zachary Fleming, and his wife, Clarrissa Fabela Fleming, of San Antonio, Texas; and her husband, Anthoney David Pidgeon (“Tony”), of Fort Davis, Texas, and his children and grandchildren; and countless other extended family members and close friends who Maureen loved dearly.

A celebration of Maureen’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her memory to The Nature Conservancy or a charity of your choice.