Obituary of E. Haas Gallaway, Jr.
E. Haas Gallaway, Jr, 79, passed away at his home in Boynton Beach, FL on December 11, 2019.
Born in Morristown, NJ and raised in Bernardsville and Basking Ridge, NJ, Haas began working at Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home as a young boy, working alongside his father learning the trade. He graduated from Bernards High School in 1959 and then attended and graduated from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Services, receiving his funeral director’s license shortly thereafter.
Haas married Diane Placko in 1962 and they began to raise a family. Haas later purchased the funeral home from his father and Mr. Crane and continued to serve his community until his retirement in 2012. Haas took great pride in serving and volunteering in his community. He was on the Board of Directors for the Somerset Hills YMCA and was president from 1968-1971; he co-founded Honesty House, an alcohol recovery center; he was a member of the Rotary Club of Bernardsville, serving as president from 1969-1970 and being named as a Paul Harris Fellow in 1983; he was a Mason in the Congdon Overlook Lodge No. 163 F.& A.M; and he served on the Millington Bank Board of directors from 1987 until retiring from the board in 2015. Haas was a member of the Bernardsville First Presbyterian Church for 40 years, serving as an elder for six of those years. He later joined the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church.
Haas was known for his quick wit, his ability to tell hilarious jokes, his attention to detail, and his unending compassion for those in need. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Diane (Placko), daughters, Debbie (Bill) Youngblood of Bernardsville, NJ, Janet (Harry) Geib of Sterling, Va., and son, Chris Gallaway of Basking Ridge, NJ. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Billy and Patrick Youngblood, Bryan and Kaitlyn Geib, and Darci Gallaway, three brothers, W. Scott Gallaway, M. Keith Gallaway, and James N. Gallaway, and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at the Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home, 101 South Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ on Friday, December 20th from 4-7pm. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 21st at the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church, 1 East Oak Street, Basking Ridge, NJ, at 11:00am.
In lieu of flowers, Haas’ family asks you to consider a contribution in his name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or a charity that holds significance in your life. For further information please visit gcfuneralhome.com