Joan Lee Galaher

Joan Lee (Murdock) Galaher, 87, of Cocoa and Indialantic, Florida died peacefully in Melborne, Florida, December 13, 2020. Predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Owen Maxwell Galaher, Jr. in 2002 and survived by her sons, Arthur Galaher (Cynthia) of Havertown, PA, Robert Galaher of Annapolis, MD, and Christopher Galaher (Ruth) of Berwyn, PA, her cherished granddaughter Rachel Galaher, great-grandchildren Kyle and Emma, and her two step-granddaughters, Emily Abbott and Frances Alejnikov.

A Florida native, born in Titusville on September 18, 1933, she was the daughter of Harry D “Pee Wee” Murdock and step-mother Alma C Murdock and grew up in Cocoa, Florida. She attended school in Cocoa through 11th grade, and graduated at 17 at St Joseph’s Catholic School in Saint Augustine. After traveling to Los Angeles to spend time with her beloved brother Robert (Harold) Murdock, she decided to join the Army and after basic training was assigned as a surgical technician at Murphy Army Hospital in Waltham, Massachusetts treating wounded veterans retuning from the Korean war. It was there she met Owen and they married to start a family together. Joan was very proud of her military service and strong supporter of the military and veteran programs. She believed all young people should spend time in the military to develop self-discipline, commitment, and greater understanding of all people in our nation.

During their life together Joan and Owen lived in many states; South Carolina, Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania following his Government career finally returning to her beloved Florida upon his retirement. Joan was a selfless wife, mother, and friend. Joan loved people and made lifelong friends wherever she went. She was devoted to her family, her friends, and every local community she touched. She often said, "Good friends are better than having a pocket full of money." Joan called herself a chronic volunteer, wherever people needed help, she was there. Throughout her life, she was dedicated to helping at elections polling stations, her sons’ boy scouts, serving on school committees, and as “room mother”, working in the schools’ libraries, and volunteering in the local elementary school after her boys were grown. She was also an avid environmentalist and just loved all animals, especially her cats. Her love of nature became a lifelong passion for protecting animals and their habitat, through numerous environmental organizations. She had an immense appreciation and gratitude for the beauty of life.

Joan loved and was very proud of her sons and all her family who ensured, as she always desired, would return to her beloved Florida to live out her final days “at home”. Joan would often say, " For a little country girl coming from a little town called Cocoa, Florida, I had a very full and interesting little life". Eternally young and mischievous, Joan will be remembered for being a classy, witty, straightforward and intelligent lady, who could hold her own in conversation with anyone, get over and forgive in disagreements, and be a helping hand to anyone who needed it.

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

Burial will take place this Saturday, April 10, 2021 at 11am, at Florida Memorial Gardens, Rockledge, Florida

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Wildlife Conservation efforts in Joan’s name.