Eva Catherine Gallagher, age 94, of Washington, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at Halcyon House in Washington after a lengthy battle with dementia.

Funeral services will be held on 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 22, 2026, at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home with Chaplain Andrew Zuehlke and Rev. Vernon Maggart officiating. Calling hours will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at the funeral home, where the family will be present to receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the Faith Baptist Church or Hospice Compassus. Online condolences may be sent for Eva’s family at www.jonesfh.com.

Eva was born on February 22, 1932, near Green Castle, Missouri, the daughter of Alva Everett and Clara Reda (Hartzler) Maggart. Eva attended country school in Sullivan County Missouri and graduated from Kirksville High School. She later graduated from Kirksville College and took graduate classes at the University of Iowa, Iowa Wesleyan and Northeast Missouri State University. She was united in marriage to William H. Gallagher on November 26, 1960, in Kirksville, Missouri.

Eva taught at country schools in Sullivan and Adair Counties in Missouri and taught for two years in Bucklin, Missouri. After moving to Iowa, she was employed by the Washington Community School District where she taught for 29 years.

She was a charter member of the Faith Baptist Church. Eva had many interests including knitting and embroidery. She enjoyed writing poetry and published two books of her poems. Eva also played the piano and organ. She spent many hours visiting nursing homes playing the piano and reciting her poetry.

Eva is survived by her son, Ronald “Ron” Gallagher and wife Robin of Washington, Iowa; and brother, Rev. Vernon Maggart and wife Neta of St. Jospeh, Missouri.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Bill in 1996; two sisters, Virginia Haggy and Ialene Darr; an infant sister, Evelyn Lucille Maggart; and two nieces, Marilyn Sinnock and Carolyn Hill.