Gallagher, Kathleen, 71, January 20, 2015. Interment to be held in the Fairview Cemetery, Perham. Arrangements by Mockler Funeral Home, Caribou.
CARIBOU – Kathleen Gallagher 71, passed away January 20, 2015, at her Caribou residence surrounded by her loving family after a courageous three-year battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS). She was born in Perham, June 30, 1943, the daughter of the late John and Myrtle (Hughes) Akerson, where she spent her childhood and eventually grew up to be the beautiful woman that we all knew and loved.
Kathleen worked at McCain’s and MECON for several years before moving to Florida. She returned to Caribou in 1993 to be with her children. Kathleen retired in October of 2011 from Kmart where she had been employed for over 20 years. She was the center of her family, and they frequently gathered with her for dinners or celebrations of any kind. Kathleen enjoyed gardening, sewing and sitting on her deck on warm summer days. Above all else, Kathleen enjoyed spending time with her family and was usually the one organizing family reunions or gathering her brothers, sisters and extended family together for yearly vacations.
She is survived by her life partner, James O’Neal of Caribou; her children, Sandy Albair and husband, James, Johnny Gallagher, and Penny Wickstrom and husband, Jon, all of Caribou; four grandchildren, Lance Albair and his wife, Lori, of Woodland, Katelyn Albair and fiancée, Alex Brombacher, of Caribou, Kyle Wickstrom of Bangor, and Nicole Wickstrom of Caribou; two great-grandchildren, Ethan and Landan Albair of Woodland; two brothers, John Akerson and wife, Elaine, of Caribou and Hugh Akerson and wife, Norma, of Woodland; three sisters, Maxine Cote of Palm Harbor, Florida, Marilyn Olmstead of Wolcott, Connecticut, and Natalie Riggs of Anderson, Indiana; and a sister-in-law, Joyce Akerson of Madawaska Lake. Kathleen is loved and will be greatly missed by several nieces and nephews who always made a special effort to stop to visit Aunt Kathy, where she always offered a warm welcome. Mrs. Gallagher was predeceased by a brother, Galen Akerson.
Friends called at the Mockler Funeral from 6-8 p.m. Saturday. Funeral services were held 2 p.m. Sunday, January 25, 2015, from the Perham Baptist Church with Rev. David Goupille, officiating. Interment will take place in the Fairview Cemetery, Perham. Friends who wish to contribute in memory of Kathleen may do so through the charity of one’s choice. www. mocklerfuneralhome.com.
