Terri began her 78 years as a beloved daughter of Paul and Maxine Gallagher on November 28, 1941 in Tacoma, Washington. Her brother, Jim, and sister, Sue, rounded out the family. Terri’s early years included sleepovers, paper dolls, and dress-up with her neighborhood friends.
In 1960, Terri graduated from North Thurston High School and married the love of her life, Charles (Chuck) McCarthy. Terri and Chuck celebrated 60 years of marriage on July 9, 2020 with party hats and stories of their honeymoon. During their long and loving marriage, Chuck and Terri made Tacoma and Olympia their home.
Although Terri was a talented and respected clerk and title assistant at Transnation Title Company until her retirement, her proudest moments reflected her dedication to her husband, children, and grandchildren.
Terri leaves as her legacy 5 living children: Barb (Mark), Kelly (John), Patty (Darrell), Steve, Dan (Heather) and son-in-law Tom (her wonderful daughter, Kathy, went home to the Lord in January, 2020). Terri adored her 13 grandchildren: Kayla, Kendra, Scott, Kristina, Shauna, Melanie, Jonny, Katy, Kyle, Jordan, Derek, Chase, Joel, Haley, Gavin and 6 great-grandchildren: Luke, Hudson, Dakota, Ryett, Tyson, and Isabelle.
Her children remember her as a thoughtful, caring, spiritual, and loving person.
Terri’s children and grandchildren were guaranteed to make her smile. Terri fondly recalled memories of her young family’s camping trips to Millersylvania State Park, dance parties, and Sunday’s Wonderful World of Disney movies complete with plenty of popcorn. In the early years, Terri volunteered her time for her children as room mom and Girl Scout leader. She attended and supported all of her six children’s after-school events. Her children could set their clocks to Terri’s Saturday morning phone calls and smiled at her birthday antics with homemade cards, cakes, and party tiaras. Terri was known as Grandma Chocolate, both for her love of chocolate and because she spoiled her grandkids with it.
Terri’s faith was very important to her. She prayed the rosary daily. Terri was a long time parishioner of St. Michael Parish. When she retired, she volunteered to give out Holy Communion to patients at St. Peter Hospital. Terri was also involved with collecting food from the church to give to the Thurston County Food Bank. Her faith was an essential part of her daily life.
Terri became a world traveler in her retirement including a 50th year anniversary cruise to Alaska, a spiritual trip to Medjugorje, and a trip to Ireland. As a Gallagher/McCarthy, of course the Ireland trip was her favorite!
Terri also spent countless hours with her quilting friends, making beautiful quilts for her children and grandchildren, reading, lunching with her Red Hats group and friends, and adored vacationing on the Oregon coast with her family.
A Catholic Mass is scheduled for August 7th, at 12:00 pm at St. Michael Church, Olympia, Washington. There will be a graveside service at 2:00 pm at Mills and Mills Memorial Park in Tumwater, Washington. Rather than flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Brain Tumor Association at https://www.abta.org/.
The family would also like to thank her loving and dedicated medical team - Dr. Jennifer Playstead, Dr. Tresa McGranahan and staff at UW Alvord Brain Tumor Center, Dr. Robyn Vera and staff at Radiant Care and her caregivers (Elizabeth, Connie and Emi) at Love & Compassion Adult Family Home.
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