In Memorandum
Merlin “Pete” Crystal
Tim Gallagher
On Saturday, April 2, 2022, Merlin “Pete” Crystal packed his saddlebags one last time and headed off to those greener pastures he had spoken about. He was surrounded by his family at home. He was 91.
Tim Gallagher passed away at Renown Hospital on April 30, 2022, at the age of 72. Tim was born December 23, 1949 in Pasadena, California on to Thomas L. and Imogene Cashbaugh Gallagher. He grew up in Fallon, was active in 4-H and FFA, and was a Nevada State FFA Vice President. Tim graduated from Churchill County High School in 1969. He attended California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, graduating with a B.S. Degree in Agriculture. After college, Tim returned to Fallon and worked with his father, Tom, at Gallagher Livestock Auction Yard. After each lot of livestock was sold, the auctioneer would proclaim “Let ’Em Go” to clear the arena, and this quickly became the slogan of the family business. Tim was a member of the Churchill County Volunteer Fire Dept., Fallon ambulance crew, Nevada Farm Bureau, Nevada and California Cattleman’s Association, Elks Club, and Los Rancheros Visitadores in Santa Ynez Valley. He married the love of his life, Debbie Beck, in Fallon on May 11, 1997. They were proud to carry on the ranching legacy residing in their historic Harmon House, which had been built in 1906. Tim and Debbie raised alfalfa and cattle. In 2005, Tim retired from active participation in the Auction Yard and purchased a Sea Ray 42-foot boat. Tim and Debbie kept the boat at the Sacramento Delta, where they enjoyed entertaining friends and family with barbeques and boat trips. They loved mini-vacations on the waterways. They enjoyed fishing and dinner with friends using a Boston Whaler. Tim is survived by his loving wife, Debbie Beck Gallagher; his sister, Cyndia A. Gallagher; stepsons Jason Bermingham, Dustin Bermingham, Larry (Tami) Boyce, and Donald ( Jennifer) Boyce; grandchildren Luke Boyce, Sydney Tyler, and Alex Boyce; and cousins Jim Cashbaugh and Alonna (Gary) Giacomini. Donations may be made in Tim’s memory to Churchill County FFA of Churchill County High School.
Pete was born on Christmas Day, 1930 in Kamas, Utah. Back then it took three days to reach the recorder’s office, so his license shows his birth as December 28. He attended school in Kamas, Utah, and in 1948 joined the Navy where he was a Seaman First Class working with the Seabees running heavy equipment on Saipan Island near Guam. Pete was honorable discharged in 1952 when he moved to Fallon. He worked for various cattle ranches in the valley and eventually went to work for the Nevada Department of Transportation Fallon crew where he spent 28 years until his retirement in 1995. Pete loved his mules and the ladies, both of which he always called “Sweetheart.” Anyone who ever crossed paths with Pete took an instant liking to him.
Pete is proceeded in death by his father Herman Crystal, mother Reva Gines, brother Chris Crystal, sister Audrey Godfrey, sister Betty Johnson, granddaughter Alyssa Garcia, great-granddaughter Iris White Eagle Rivers.
He is survived by his brothers Arzy Crystal, Arnold Crystal, Jimmy and Janice Crystal, sister Maxeen Long, all of Kamas, Utah; sons Peter Crystal of Vernona, Oregon, Shawn and Victoria Crystal of Fallon, and Robert Crystal; grandchildren Petey and Levi Crystal, Ashlee and Dominic Szlavich all of Oregon; Tyler, Jesse, and Colt Crystal all of Fallon, Tyler and Kimber (Brown ) Liedke of Fernley, David and Donna Brown of Fernley; Robert Brown of Reno; Maverick Boney of Dayton; Great-grandchildren Noah Sarabia of Pyramid Lake, Eva Rivers of Wadsworth, Colby Brown of Fernley, Emma Brown of Fallon, Aiyanna Brown of Winnemucca, and Lydia Brown of Iowa, along with numerous nieces and nephews. www.progressiverancher.com
The Progressive Rancher
JULY/AUGUST 2022
11
