Mary Eleanor Gallegos

MARY GALLEGOS  FISHERSVILLE, VA..Mary Gallegos, 100, died Monday, July 31, 2017 in FishersvilleMary Eleanor Boon Gallegos was born on December 6, 1916 in Norwood, Colorado, where her parents had moved from Nebraska to homestead new land in Colorado, taking advantage of the new Homestead Act.  Her family moved to Grand Junction, Colorado in the early 1920's, where she grew to adult years and attended Mesa College there.  Some of her best childhood memories were all the adventures she had in the mountains of Colorado.  She enjoyed climbing in the mountains and learned how to fish and row a boat in the lakes.  On July 6, 1935 (in the middle of the Great Depression) she married Lyle A. Gallegos. He started a radio repair business which branched out into selling radios and electronics.  There were many moves during the WWII years, and the couples' first two children, Lyle and Lorraine, were born in Grand Junction, Colorado.  They relocated to Portsmouth, Virginia where Lyle worked as an electronics engineer for the Navy, and where their third child, Chuck, was born.  During most of these years Mary was a "stay-at-home Mom".  She did attend William & Mary College extension classes in pursuit of a teaching degree.  She was consistently faithful in her daily private devotions, and to her church.  She was active in Sunday School, the Women's Ministry, Vacation Bible School, and Circle activities.  In 1958, Lyle's job with the Navy took them to the Washington DC area, where they remained in the Maryland suburbs for 22 years.  She was a member of Kensington Baptist Church, and later Fourth Presbyterian Church; she attended Bible Study Fellowship, Community Bible Study, Circle, and Missions Meetings.  As the children were growing to adulthood, Mary was a substitute teacher in the Montgomery County (MD) School system. Upon retirement they moved to Pawleys Island, SC in 1980, where they enjoyed more than 20 years of life at the beach.  Mary was a faithful member of Pawleys Island Presbyterian Church, and counted Frank and Gail Holsclaw among their dear friends.  Her faith and church life were always a top priority, and her life showed that she believed in applying the truths that she learned in the Scriptures.  She continued with daily Bible study and prayer, because it had been a lifelong love and discipline. Mary is pre-deceased by her husband of 67 years, Lyle, and son Lyle Clark, brother Robert Boon, sisters Ethel Boon Brumley and Eunice Helen Boon.  Mary is survived by her sister Rella Mae Boon Marcantonio, daughter, Lorraine and husband John, Chuck and wife Mindy, daughter-in-law Judy, seven grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.    A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at Pawleys Island Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Pawleys Island, South Carolina.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Mary Gallegos to Hospice of the Shenandoah, c/o Augusta Health Foundation, P. O. Box 1000, Fishersville, VA 22939 or to the Residents’ Fund of Shenandoah Nursing and Rehab, 339 Westminister Drive, Fishersville, VA 22939.