Jason Dean Gallagher

Jason Dean Gallagher, 42, passed away April 29, 2023. Jason was born at Offutt AFB,  Nebraska, on September 8, 1980, into an Air Force family and soon became a trans-ocean traveler, flying to their posting in Australia before the age of two.

Jason was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at age 7. The family was posted at Whiteman Air Force Base in Jason’s early years, then moved to Leawood, Kansas, where he attended and graduated from Shawnee Mission South.

He received a BA from Rockhurst College in political science and interned in Washington DC for Congressman Dennis Moore before returning to the Kansas City metro, where he set up his own independent-living arrangement.  He was a long-term advocate for disability rights.

Jason was passionate about his friends, movies, games, Mickey Mouse, and Dr. Who.  He also shared his brother’s love of Legos and the Kansas City Royals.

Jason considered himself as a “Thinker.  Dreamer.  Writer.  Friend.” He loved people, greatly desiring both to know and to be known, always willing to be vulnerable with his own story as well as listen to another's.  Jason was passionate about life and never stopped trying to leave the world a better place.  Jason lived the quote he last included on his email signature line from the 11th Dr. Who:

“We’re all stories in the end. Just make it a good one, eh?”

Jason leaves behind his much-loved brother, Erik Gallagher, his mother, Jan Gallagher, his father, Lance Gallagher, along with his stepmother, Jerri Gallagher, stepbrother, Michael Corgiat and his stepbrother’s wife, Janel, his Great-aunt Kay and Great-uncle Bruce in Wales, UK, and many, many friends, cousins, aunts, uncles, as well as his sangha community. 

In 2018 Jason expressed his feeling about what camp meant to him. "I consider myself an articulate person, and yet as I sit here trying to describe what camp meant to me, words escape me. For 16 years of my life summer camp was the best week of the year. Every day after one year's camp ended was a day preparing for next year's camp. It's hard to describe the unbelievable love, spirit, and family that is camp, but have you ever thought about how earth could just be a better place if we could all just drop our egos, show understanding for our neighbors, and give of ourselves to others? Have you ever wondered what it would be like if we could truly show love for one another openly? What it would be like to walk in a world where you could be completely yourself with no shame or fear? That place IS camp. I am a better person -- because of camp. I still believe the world is full of good people -- because of camp. I still believe the world is a good place - because of camp. I strive to make the world a better place -- because of camp. I know the world is full of love -- because of camp."

If you wish to contribute in Jason’s memory, the family suggests that in lieu of flowers help send a child with Neuromuscular Disease to camp by donating to Neuromuscular Access Initiative Inc. at https://www.nainitiative.com/ or to your local library. And/or post a memory of Jason on the Tribute Wall under this obituary on the Amos Family Funeral Home page at www.amosfamily.com/obituary/Jason-Gallagher

The family invites you to a celebration of life honoring Jason on Thursday, May 18, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at Brew Haha Coffeehouse, 10332 Mastin Street, Overland Park, Kansas. https://brewhahacoffeehouse.com/