Lois Jean White Gallagher

Lois Jean White Gallagher, (1931-2020), peacefully went home to be with the Lord on December 28th. This was the same day that her deceased husband, John was born in 1926. She is survived by her daughter Dianne (Bob) Josephs of Houston, TX, her sons William Kiddell of Sunrise, FL, and Jay (Barbara) Gallagher of Plantation, step children Gaye (Michael) Bartlett of Davie, FL, Suzanne (Kevin) Priest of Bay Village, OH, and 8 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. Lois was born in Chicago, IL to Joseph and Evelyn White. She attended Austin High School. She exceled in speed skating, running track, and volleyball. At the age of 16, she ran track at the NY Melrose Games and Chicago Relays in 1948. She played volleyball for the Chicago Hurricanes. In 1953, Lois moved to Lake Forest, IL to teach Physical Education at the private, Winter Club. While teaching children sports and sportsmanship, she continued to play traveling volleyball for the Chicago Jesters. The team represented Chicago in tournaments throughout the US and Canada. Her highlight was playing against the Japanese National team in 1963 at St. George High School, the year before Japan won Gold in the 1964 Olympics. By 1958, she was working for Sears, using her education from the Art Institute of Chicago, as an Interior Designer. She then went to work as the showroom manager in the Merchandise Mart, in Chicago, for Erwin-Lambeth, a high end furniture manufacturer. She truly loved these years. She was a member of the M&M Club, Furn. Mfg. Club, Dec. Trades Club, and a trade member of ASID. She made many lifelong friends. The family moved to Plantation, FL in 1979. The house became a vacation spot for many friends and family from the North for the last 40 years. She worked for a prestigious furniture trade showroom, Baker, Knapp, and Tubbs, in Miami. She regularly ranked among the top 5 salespeople across the US until 1987. This is when she caught the eye of Sherrill Furniture. She was made manager of the AJ Whittemore showroom in the new DCOTA building. She worked with hundreds of Interior Designers throughout Florida and the Islands. She retired in 2002, at the age of 72. Lois was a member of the IL Speed Skating Assoc., AAU, and Chicago Volleyball Assoc. of the US Volleyball Assoc. She loved the Lord, family, pets, friends, her country, Lake Forest, and her Norwegian heritage. She was blessed to watch her beloved Chicago Cubs win a World Series in her lifetime. Visitation will be held on Monday, January 11 at TM Ralph Funeral Home in Plantation, FL from 4-7 pm. A Funeral Service will be held at Monday, 5:00 PM at the funeral home. Interment, Tuesday 1:30 PM at South Florida VA Cemetery, Lake Worth, Florida Arrangements by T. M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home 7001 NW 4 Street Plantation, Florida 33317 954-587-6888 www.tmralph.com