Patricia Ann Gallas

Patricia Ann Gallas
January 2009

Patricia Ann Gallas (Schmidt) was born April 2, 1932 to George and June Schmidt, New Castle, Pennsylvania. She had a younger brother, Paul. As a young girl, the family moved to the Chicago area where her dad was a mechanic. Her fondest childhood memories came from the many visits to the Hillyard family farm in the beautiful countryside of Chester, West Virginia. Here is where she developed her lifelong love for flowers, vegetable gardens and animals. While at Proviso East High School, Maywood, Illinois, Pat met her future husband, Edward A. Gallas. They were married June 9, 1951 while Ed was serving in the US Army. They began a family in Wonder Lake, Illinois raising three boys, Daniel, Gary and Scott followed by three girls; Dawn (Horras), Cindy (Elliott) and Jill Gallas. Her husband supported the family as a carpet salesman while Pat was employed part-time at the local grocery store and restaurant. In 1969 the family moved to Westminster, Colorado. During the next several years Pat continued to focus on caring for her family needs. She was also employed 10 years with Village Inn Restaurant and then with the Adams County School District 50 bookkeeping office. She became an active member of the Denver Missionary Church teaching children's Bible lessons and volunteering in many ways. The family recalls season after season of fruitful trees, vegetable gardens, and flower beds. In 1984, Pat and Ed built a custom home in Berthoud, Colorado where she enjoyed her largest garden ever and a small animal farm. Over her lifetime she owned over 12 dogs, 7 cats, chickens, turkeys, cattle, and an aquarium. During this time in Berthoud, she served again in Food Services for a local care facility. After the loss of her spouse, Pat relocated to Loveland, Colorado in 1994, reuniting with her own mother and spending many leisure hours together before her mother's death. She eventually moved back to the Westminster area allowing her to build many treasured memories with her 6 children and 18 grandchildren. Children include: Daniel Gallas (and spouse Maripat), Aurora; Scott Gallas (and spouse Pam), Westminster; Gary Gallas, Brighton; Dawn Horras (and spouse Dave), Westminster; Cindy Elliott (and spouse Rodney), Denver and Jill Gallas, Greeley. Grandchildren include: Amy Gallas-Benedict (and spouse David), Aurora; Joy Gallas, Denver; Justin Gallas, Westminster; Holly Elliott-Fix (and spouse Adam), Denver; Levi Gallas, Alamosa; Tyler Gallas, Alamosa; Heidi Elliott, Denver; Kayla Smith, Greeley; Jeffery Elliott, Denver; Cody Smith, Greeley; Conrad Smith, Greeley; Leah Horras, Westminster; Jonathan Elliott, Denver; Clay Smith, Greeley; Rachel Horras, Westminster; Hope Elliott, Denver; Cole Smith, Greeley; and Kaitlin Smith, Greeley. Great-grandchildren include Ty Benedict. She is survived by her brother, Paul Schmidt (Atlanta, Georgia). Pat is remembered for her gifts of hospitality, generosity, strength, love and compassion.