Joe C. (J C) Gallaher, 87, Collinwood, TN, died at his home on Sunday, February 4, 2018. He was born on April 18, 1930 in Wayne County, TN the son of the late Joe and Laura Springer Gallaher.
J. C. joined the United States Army in 1950 and was soon sent to Korea where he was captured at the Chosin Reservoir and remained a Prisoner of War for 32 months and 17 days and received an honorable discharge in 1953. He later worked at Murray Ohio Manufacturing for over 35 years and was a member of Millrock Freewill Baptist Church, Collinwood, TN and the Collinwood American Legion.
He is survived by his wife of over 64 years, Thelma Jean Brison Gallaher of Collinwood, TN; a daughter, Melody Cross, husband, Ed of Florence, AL; son, Brett Gallaher of Lawrenceburg, TN; grandchildren, Tyler Hallmark, wife, Liz, Dustin Gallaher, wife, Brittney, Carson Hallmark, Craig Gallaher, wife, Brittney and Laney Gallaher; brothers, Lester Gallaher of Lawrenceburg, TN and Frank Gallaher of Waynesboro, TN; sisters, Anna Lou Clayton, husband, Daniel of Millersville, TN, Grace Hollis of Westpoint, TN, Carolyn Hampton, husband, Joe of Gallatin, TN and Helen Gibson of Madison, TN; sister-in-law, Dianne Butler, husband, Larry of Collinwood, TN and a host of nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, J. C. was preceded in death by a brother, Gilbert Gallaher and a sister, Edna Staggs.
Services will be Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at 1:00 PM at Shackelford Funeral Directors chapel in Collinwood, Tennessee, with Joel Wallace and Coy Hallmark officiating. Burial with military rites will follow in the Shawnettee Memory Gardens, Collinwood, Tennessee with Shackelford Funeral Directors, Wayne County, directing. Pallbearers will be Tyler Hallmark, Carson Hallmark, Dustin Gallaher, Craig Gallaher, Josh Gallaher and Jody Roberson. Honorary pallbearers will be Roger Brison, Billy Holt, Joe Horton and Jerry Roberson.
Visitation will be Tuesday, February 6, 2018 from 5:30 pm to 8 pm and Wednesday, February 7, 2018 from 11 am until service time at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Wayne County Veterans Park, American Legion POW/MIA Monument, PO Box 315, Collinwood, TN 38450. The family wishes to express thanks to Tennessee Quality Home HealthCare and Hospice and caregiver, Sharon Staggs, for her devotion to our family.