HERNANDO, Miss. — John “Doc” Gallagher, DVM, 93 years old and a resident of Wesley Meadows Retirement Community, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 19, with family by his side.

Born April 21, 1923, in Centreville, New Brunswick, Canada, John grew up in New Brunswick and in 1948, graduated with a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Ontario Veterinary College. On Nov. 26, 1949, he married Wilma Jane Staniland, whom he loved with all his heart.

Doc practiced in Ontario, NB, and northern Maine, until 1962 when he moved his family to Lewiston and began a practice there. In 1967, he built the Lisbon Road Animal Hospital at 1981 Lisbon Road, which continues to operate today.

After retiring in 1988, John and Wilma wintered in Florida and eventually became year-round residents. In 2015, the Gallaghers moved to Mississippi to live near their daughter, Marti.

On Aug. 12, 2016, after 66 years of marriage, John said goodbye to his beloved Wilma, who passed onto Heaven, but they are reunited now.

John leaves behind a son, James S. “Jim” Gallagher of Kona, N.C.; three daughters, Susan Annear of Spruce Pine, N.C., Laura Stapleton and her husband, Jim, of Bakersville, N.C., and Marti Turgeon and her husband, Louis, of Walls, Miss.; and his beloved grandchildren, John Gallagher, Kristina Gallagher, Adam Shirah, Sarah Wills, Becki Rogers and Andrew Turgeon. John also has many great-grandchildren, whom he dearly loved. His favorite dog, Lexi, misses him dearly.

John is predeceased by a daughter, Brenda Gallagher Gonya; and a grandson, Benjamin Bunton.

John Gallagher