April 9, 1947 - May, 2025
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Memories of Jim Gallagher by Betsy Johnson:
Jim and I have known each other since kindergarten at Wilson Grade School. We had the same teachers all the way through the 7 th grade.
He told me that the reason he was a little pudgy in grade school, is that he had a neighbor who kept bringing him donuts, etc. Then on the first day of school at Lewis and Clark when we were sophomores, I see this handsome, filled out and tall guy standing on the stairs. When he said hello to me, I couldn’t believe it was the same Jim I knew in grade and middle school!
What a change!
After I moved back to Spokane, I lived in my parents’ house that was in great need of exterior painting. From time to time, I would see Jim at the Studio K. When I mentioned that my house needed painting, Jim said he could do it. During the job, he was living with Rod Haight in a rental house that was being sold. Both he and Rod had to find a new place to live. As he
was painting the house, I told him I had an extra bedroom he could rent. As it turned out he was the painter who never left after 14 years!
While he was staying at my house, we had many enjoyable conversations about people we knew at Wilson and Lewis and Clark. He shared with me my interest in old movies. He also liked listening to the old radio shows from time to time.
He made me laugh too much!
After a trip or two to Rosauers, he would often tell me about a person that would come up to him and said that they knew him from high school. Jim was always polite even though he didn’t have a clue who they were!
Jim was always a cheerful person especially when it came to his family and friends. He adored his children and grandchildren. I remember when Devyn was playing basketball at the University of Oregon and at St. Maries, we would watch it on the computer with the help of Krinten who gave us the
proper links. He was such a proud dad, grandpa and great grandpa! He would attend every Bloomsday with his family, which I thought was a wonderful thing, especially with three generations!
Jim was such a gracious person. He was always there to help his friends who need a hand with anything and never complained when he had hurt a hand or this back.
I will always treasure our friendship and will miss his phone call to get caught up!
Thank you Besty for sharing your story.
This is written by one of Jim’s good friends, Mike Yake.
Jim, Mr. Charisma, meets The Shy Nerd.
Not only did Jim seem to know and remember every LC student, he introduced me to most of them throughout our friendship.
We met our Junior Year at LC. Jim was a Hall Monitor and stopped me when nature called and I was walking the halls. What is your purpose out here? We were friends from then on.
Next, we shared Trig and Advanced Trig classes. He showed up in Math Class during Hello Week with his creative name cards. Hilarious! Can't repeat them here but let's just say,
complete with sexual innuendos, the name cards were confiscated quickly by Faculty. Later, we learned that Faculty laughed hysterically together reading Jim's witty name cards!
After LC, Jim and I lost touch. It was many years later after post graduate work, when our paths crossed again. We were both married with families. Suddenly and sadly, we found
ourselves bachelors. Together, we enjoyed the old Hindquarter Wednesday and Friday nights.
Jim was choosing his next place to live and I was rambling around an empty house so we became roommates. He filled our bachelor pad with companionship, laughter, and many good
times. When I moved to San Diego, Jim house sat, until the roof fell in on a cold, snowy night.
Luckily, Jim was not injured but he wisely chose to find new digs.
Jim was the Best Man for my second marriage. Jim's partner and girlfriend became lifelong friends with my wife and me. We four amigos traveled, went to concerts, and started our own Cooking Club, Fat Saturdays. Who could forget Jim's first menu item Stuffed Snow Peas? Delicioso!
As for so many others, Jim was our go-to guy. He unselfishly offered a kind helping hand at the drop of a hat. When most needed, without reservation, Jim would come to the rescue;
moving, painting, building, fixing and all that homeownership fun stuff.
After 43 years of friendship, it was difficult and heartbreaking to see Jim struggle with illness.
Jim was outgoing, loving, charismatic, witty, kind, and so much more. We miss him. Hopefully, someday we'll all meet up again and enjoy Jim's friendship and all of our treasured memories.
Jim Gallagher with Betsy Johnson
Jim Gallagher and Mike Yake