Obituary for Meghan Taylor Gallagher
It is with great sadness that Meghan’s parents mourn the loss of their daughter who left this world much too young at the age of 23. They ask friends and family to not only recall her beautiful spirit, compassion, and her goofiness, but also to remember to live life to the fullest because it is much too short.
Meghan T. Gallagher, 23, passed away unexpectedly at her college apartment in Reno, NV on April 24, 2020.
Born March 6, 1997 in Harrisburg, PA, she is the daughter of Brent and Sharon (Beane) Gallagher, of Dillsburg, PA.
Meghan loved so many and was loved by many more. She had an energy that with just one encounter you would remember her for life. If you knew her well or barely at all she always left you thinking; whether it was about how beautiful, ridiculously funny, or just downright outrageous she was. She left her mark on anyone who met her. She will continue to live on in the memories that are shared by those who had the honor of knowing her.
Meghan was a 2015 graduate of Northern High School in Dillsburg, PA. She was on the honor roll, with English as her favorite subject. Reading was her passion and she maintained a collection of books which she considered her treasure. She was awarded the Jerry Brooks Award. Meghan exceeded the criteria for this award by maintaining a GPA of 3.8 and competing in four sports with numerous varsity letters. She was also selected to the Mid Penn Conference All Star Team for field hockey with the team winning back to back conference championships. This was an accomplishment that she and her family were very proud of. With her natural athletic ability, she focused on soccer, swimming, lacrosse, and field hockey. She also participated on the LDC Soccer Club Team and the Key State Field Hockey Club.
In her younger years she swam for the WSCC and YMCA teams. She advanced to States as part of the YMCA team in butterfly and the medley relay team. She also played on the Dillsburg Twisters soccer team building lifelong friendships with her teammates.
After high school she committed to Franklin & Marshall College and played on their field hockey team. Meghan then spent the summer at Lake Tahoe as a camp counselor while living with her Aunt Shawn (Gallagher) Benjaminson and Uncle Evan Benjaminson. She loved the area because of the mountains for skiing and hiking and the lake for kayaking. She then decided to transfer to the University of Nevada Reno, where she met the love of her life, Colton Johnson.
In addition to her loving parents, Meghan is survived by her grandmothers, Shirley Beane, and Toni Lisinichia; several aunts, uncles, and cousins; her boyfriend, Colton Johnson; her friends; and her beloved dog, Parker.
Meghan was preceded in death by her grandfathers, Howard “Papa” Beane and Hugh Gallagher; her Uncle, Herb Hunt; and her golden retriever, Sadie.
A small viewing was held in an old chapel from the 1800’s near Lake Tahoe. After visiting Hawaii with Colton and having a chance to see the customs of the native people, Meghan appreciated how ceremonial the culture was. To honor these customs her family and friends took kayaks and paddle boards out on Lake Tahoe while listening to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” allowing the flowers and a bit of Meghan to float off into the sunset.
A celebration of Meghan’s life is being planned for a day and time when circumstances allow. The family asks that those who wish to attend send their contact information to Sharon Gallagher at sharon1231@msn.com
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Humane Society of Harrisburg, 7790 Grayson Rd., Harrisburg, PA 17111 or Keep Tahoe Blue, 2608 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150.
Meghan T. Gallagher, 23, passed away unexpectedly at her college apartment in Reno, NV on April 24, 2020.
Born March 6, 1997 in Harrisburg, PA, she is the daughter of Brent and Sharon (Beane) Gallagher, of Dillsburg, PA.
Meghan loved so many and was loved by many more. She had an energy that with just one encounter you would remember her for life. If you knew her well or barely at all she always left you thinking; whether it was about how beautiful, ridiculously funny, or just downright outrageous she was. She left her mark on anyone who met her. She will continue to live on in the memories that are shared by those who had the honor of knowing her.
Meghan was a 2015 graduate of Northern High School in Dillsburg, PA. She was on the honor roll, with English as her favorite subject. Reading was her passion and she maintained a collection of books which she considered her treasure. She was awarded the Jerry Brooks Award. Meghan exceeded the criteria for this award by maintaining a GPA of 3.8 and competing in four sports with numerous varsity letters. She was also selected to the Mid Penn Conference All Star Team for field hockey with the team winning back to back conference championships. This was an accomplishment that she and her family were very proud of. With her natural athletic ability, she focused on soccer, swimming, lacrosse, and field hockey. She also participated on the LDC Soccer Club Team and the Key State Field Hockey Club.
In her younger years she swam for the WSCC and YMCA teams. She advanced to States as part of the YMCA team in butterfly and the medley relay team. She also played on the Dillsburg Twisters soccer team building lifelong friendships with her teammates.
After high school she committed to Franklin & Marshall College and played on their field hockey team. Meghan then spent the summer at Lake Tahoe as a camp counselor while living with her Aunt Shawn (Gallagher) Benjaminson and Uncle Evan Benjaminson. She loved the area because of the mountains for skiing and hiking and the lake for kayaking. She then decided to transfer to the University of Nevada Reno, where she met the love of her life, Colton Johnson.
In addition to her loving parents, Meghan is survived by her grandmothers, Shirley Beane, and Toni Lisinichia; several aunts, uncles, and cousins; her boyfriend, Colton Johnson; her friends; and her beloved dog, Parker.
Meghan was preceded in death by her grandfathers, Howard “Papa” Beane and Hugh Gallagher; her Uncle, Herb Hunt; and her golden retriever, Sadie.
A small viewing was held in an old chapel from the 1800’s near Lake Tahoe. After visiting Hawaii with Colton and having a chance to see the customs of the native people, Meghan appreciated how ceremonial the culture was. To honor these customs her family and friends took kayaks and paddle boards out on Lake Tahoe while listening to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” allowing the flowers and a bit of Meghan to float off into the sunset.
A celebration of Meghan’s life is being planned for a day and time when circumstances allow. The family asks that those who wish to attend send their contact information to Sharon Gallagher at sharon1231@msn.com
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Humane Society of Harrisburg, 7790 Grayson Rd., Harrisburg, PA 17111 or Keep Tahoe Blue, 2608 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150.