Phyllis Marie Gallagher

March 6, 1937 – December 19, 2023

Wrightwood, California

Phyllis M. Gallagher, wife, mom, grandma, sister, aunt, friend, nurse, attorney and activist, passed from this life to the next with her loving family by her side. Her Catholic faith in Jesus Christ gave her the hope that death is not an end but a new beginning. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Edward J. Gallagher, and by her daughter, Ellen. She is survived by her children, Laura (Marty), Ann (Steve), Patrick (Almara) and Paul (Katarina), her grandchildren, Bradley (Melody), Kelly, (Shauhin), Annissa, Emma, Isabella, Hannah, Sylvia, Maddy and Benjamin, by her great-grandchildren, Aliyah and Ezra and by her faithful dog and companion, Reggie.

Originally from Milwaukee Wisconsin, Phyllis was the third born of seven children. After high school, she attended St. Mary’s School of nursing and became an RN. It was then that she met and married her lifelong husband and partner, Edward J. Gallagher, who was studying to become a doctor at Marquette University School of Medicine. They moved back to his home state of California and eventually settled in Fullerton along with their five children. In the mid-1970s, they fell in love with the mountain hamlet of Wrightwood, moved there full-time in 1986, and lived there together for almost 35 years, enjoying the four seasons, hiking and natural beauty. Phyllis continued to enjoy the mountains and lived there until her recent passing.

While living in Fullerton and raising her children, Phyllis had hopes and dreams for herself and wanted to make a difference for others using her Christian ideals as a guide. She earned a BA in English in 1973 from California State University, Fullerton, went on to earn a JD in 1977 from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, passed the California State Bar and went on to help those in need with her legal expertise and warm heart. Both she and Ed were avid learners and together went on to earn an MA in Bioethics in 2005. As a young mother and attorney, she embarked on a journey which included a broad range of social and environmental activism, starting with support for the United Farm Workers, the anti-war group, Beyond War and the anti-nuclear power movement against So Cal Edison’s San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant. She gave her efforts to many similar organizations throughout her life, as well. Her law practice consisted of doing probate, wills and trusts, eldercare law and her passion of nursing law, advocating for nurses facing licensure issues. She had a tenacity of spirit in fighting for the causes in which she believed and always carried out her activities with courage, humility and grace.

Funeral services have been held. Phyllis is loved and missed by many. Memorial contributions may be made to the United Farm Workers organization, Catholic Relief Services, Habitat for Humanity, the Nature Conservancy, Bread for the World or a charity of your choice.