Roslyn Geraldine Gallagher

Roslyn Geraldine Gallagher passed away peacefully on September 15, 2026, in Midway, Utah, surrounded by the love and memories of a life that was anything but ordinary.

Roslyn was born in West Kirby, England, on December 29, 1943, to Jay and Don Thompson. From the beginning, she lived with curiosity, energy, imagination, and an insatiable desire to learn. She was a voracious reader, an enthusiastic traveler, a lover of games, and someone who believed life was meant to be experienced, and was even better when everyone around her was having fun, too.

Education was one of the great loves of Roslyn’s life. She earned two bachelor’s degrees and two master’s degrees in education, reading, and counseling. She became an incredible teacher, remembered by her students for her unusual, memorable, and wonderfully creative ways of getting them engaged and excited about learning. She understood that sometimes the best way to teach was to make people laugh, surprise them, and leave them eager to discover what came next.

Roslyn’s zest for adventure extended far beyond the classroom. She loved traveling, planning travel adventures, proper grammar, and perhaps most of all, making memories. She was the ultimate entertainer and hosted legendary parties of up to 500 people in locations around the world. Those Europeans will never forget her mandatory games and costumes, and her parties will not be forgotten by those lucky enough to have attended them. She loved playing bridge, Mahjong, and especially "punishment" games, where her quick wit and competitive spirit were always on full display.

Roslyn’s life of service grew alongside her life of adventure. As the wife of a senior military officer, she became deeply focused on supporting the families of Sailors and Marines during extended deployments. She was always looking for ways to help: solving problems, offering support, organizing, or simply making sure someone knew they were not alone.

She was commissioned as a Yellow Rose of Texas (Yellow "Ros" of Texas) by George W. Bush, an honor that reflected her extraordinary service and contributions.

Being a mother to her only daughter, Dawn, was one of the things Roslyn treasured most. At times, she joked that she wanted to bury that treasure, but ultimately, their relationship grew into one of the great loves and accomplishments of her life. Roslyn was fiercely devoted to Dawn and spent her life looking out for her, always trying to do what she believed was best. Their relationship was filled with love, loyalty, very strong opinions, and the kind of humor that comes from knowing and loving one another completely.

To her grandchildren, Sage and Merritt, she was the world’s best Nana. She brought them her love of learning, games, travel, imagination, adventure, and of course, a healthy appreciation for proper grammar. She taught them that ordinary moments could become adventures and that there was always room for one more game, one more story, one more trip, and one more laugh.

Roslyn leaves behind a legacy that cannot be measured in degrees, accomplishments, awards, or miles traveled. Her greatest legacy is the incredible collection of memories she created for the people she loved. She made life bigger, louder, more interesting, and a whole lot more fun. Her quick wit, adventurous spirit, generous heart, fierce strength, and unforgettable personality will live on in the stories told about her for generations.

She is survived by the love of her life, her husband, “DG,” Dick Gallagher; her daughter, "Dawnde", Dawn Smith; and her beloved grandchildren,"Sagey Pagey", Sage Smith and "Merrity Ferrity", Merritt Smith.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Roslyn by either volunteering or donating to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, putting down your phone for an entire day and using your brain, or just doing something....taking that  trip you have always wanted, playing a game, making a memory, and having some fun.

That is what Ros would have wanted.