Milicia Lavada "Vada" Dean Gallaway

Services will be held 10:00 a.m. Monday August 29, 2011 at Memorial Baptist Church of Killeen with Bro. Floyd Franks and Bro. Weldon Hicks officiating. Burial to follow at Killeen Memorial Park.

Lavada was born July 8, 1925 at home in The Grove community of Emmitt M. Dean and Edna Mae Poe Dean. She was the youngest daughter of six children.

Mrs. Gallaway was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Allen Gallaway in 2002, brothers Jewel Dean, John Calvin ‘Buddy’ Dean, one baby brother Evan O’Dale and one sister Lorraine Dean Edwards, her baby daughter Joy Lynn Gallaway, her granddaughter Wendy MaeLynn Whitson, her great grandson, Mason Balch and one son in law, John Haun.

Thomas Allen Gallaway stole her heart and they married February 22, 1946 in McGregor, TX and made their home in Killeen. While raising three children she worked at Sears, Wards, S&H Green Stamp store and American State Bank until she decided to keep children in her home and the Baptist church she attended, her greatest love.

Many children in Killeen grew up knowing “Miss Vada” as a second mama whether she kept them in her home or in the nurseries at East Side Baptist Church, Memorial Baptist Church and in her later years Fellowship Baptist Church in Morgan’s Point.

She was fortunate enough to have kept second generations of children as well. Vada was blessed with good health well into her 80’s until Alzheimer’s robbed her of the great memories she experienced in her blessed life.

Lavada and Thomas retired to Morgan’s Point and enjoyed their final years there playing with all the grand children and great grandchildren, working in their garden, as well as camping and sporting life with the Chisholm Trail Good Sam’s Travel Club, Bell County Sportsman’s Club and Central Texas Sportsman’s Club.

She is survived by one brother, T.R. Dean and wife Virginia of Moody, three children; Darlene Haun of Killeen,Terry Gallaway and wife Linda of Morgan’s Point, Judy Whitson and husband Bob of Killeen. Lavada was blessed with 9 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews who she loved dearly. Her stories of hard work, picking cotton, and canning everything she grew, hoeing the garden with her siblings and pranks her brothers pulled on her brought much laughter to her children.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons.

The family wishes to thank all those who blessed her life with their friendship. Memorials may be made to S & W Children’s Hospital, any Alzheimer’s Association or to the charity of ones choice. Visitation is from 6-8 p.m. Sunday, August 28, 2011 at Crawford Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen.

Arrangements are in the care of Crawford Bowers Funeral Home in Killeen.

You may express your condolences to the family at www.crawfordbowersfuneralhome.com.