Andrew Jackson Gahagan

- ANDREW JACKSON GAHAGAN, 73, DIED TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2001 AT ST. JOSEPHS HOSPITAL AFTER A BRIEF ILLNESS. HE WAS BORN MAY 8, 1927, IN MARSHALL, NC. SON OF THE LATE WILLIAM GRADY GAHAGAN AND BESSIE MAE THOMAS GAHAGAN AND WAS ALSO PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS BROTHER, WILLIAM GRADY GAHAGAN. A VETERAN OF THE U.S. ARMY, HE SERVED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEER BATTALION, BUILDING THE ALASKA-CANADIAN HIGHWAY. HE RETIRED AFTER 35 YEARS SERVICE WITH ARKANSAS BEST FREIGHT, AND AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH WAS A SECURITY OFFICER AT THE WNC FARMERS MARKET. HE WAS A MEMBER OF WEST ASHEVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH, AND A LOVING HUSBAND, FATHER , AND PAWPAW TO HIS SEVEN GRANDCHILDREN. ANDREW WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS GENTLE SPIRIT, GENEROUS NATURE AND DEDICATED WORK ETHIC. ALL WHO KNEW AND LOVED HIM WILL MISS HIM GREATLY. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, NELLIE M. GAHAGAN; SON, DR. LARRY D. GAHAGAN AND HIS WIFE DR. JANET E. GAHAGAN OF LITTLETON, COLORADO; DAUGHTER, DEBORAH GAHAGAN-DEERE AND HUSBAND JOHN ALAN DEERE OF CHARLOTTE; SON, CARLOS FORD AND DAUGHTER BARBARA FISHER AND HUSBAND REV. DALE FISHER OF HUDSON. SEVEN GRANDCHILDREN, LAUREN DEERE, LINDSEY DEERE AND WILLIAM DEERE OF CHARLOTTE, SANDY GAHAGAN OF HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA, MATTHEW FISHER, JONATHAN FISHER AND ASHLEY FISHER OF HUDSON; BROTHER, WILLIAM JETER GAHAGAN AND SISTER ELIZABETH HENDERSON OF WEAVERVILLE. FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE HELD AT 12:00 NOON FRIDAY AT ANDERS-RICE FUNERAL HOME WITH THE REVS. KEN LEWIS AND DALE FISHER OFFICIATING. THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE FRIENDS AT 11:00 A.M. PRIOR TO THE SERVICE. BURIAL WILL BE AT PISGAH VIEW MEMORIAL PARK. MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE MADE TO WEST ASHEVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH MASTERS PLAN, 926 HAYWOOD ROAD, ASHEVILLE, N.C. 28806.