Gary Shannon Gaillard

Gary Shannon Gaillard, Sr., 77, widower of Annette Zealy Gaillard, passed away peacefully Monday, March 21, 2016.Gary was born in Charleston on July 25, 1938 to Henry L. Gaillard and Dora Worsham Gaillard. He worked as a movie projectionist and as a lifeguard at the Charleston Municipal Pool. It was there that he met his sweetheart and future bride. At a young age, he joined the U.S. Army and became a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne in Fort Bragg, NC. He enjoyed the thrill of the jump, but yearned to return home to Charleston to marry his love and be near his family. He went to work for Westvaco in the test lab and retired after forty years of service. At Westvaco, he became volunteered with the rescue squad, a group dear to his heart, and became an EMT. "Gilly", as he was often called, had a great love of seafood and a particular fondness of the crab leg. He was a fan of all things pork, Cheetos and the boiled peanut. A tinkerer by nature, he was known for his ability to get things running, make improvements, remove trees and stumps, and sharpen saw blades. Among his enjoyments were war movies, his beloved dogs and his "shed" time. He is survived by his son Gary S. Gaillard, Jr. of Houston, TX and Mark Zealy Gaillard of Charleston, SC and a brother, Gerald Worsham Gaillard of St. Louis, MO. He was predeceased by his parents, a daughter, Mary Cornelia, a brother, Thomas Gaillard, and a sister, Sara Gaillard. The family will receive friends between 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM, with the funeral following at 1:30 PM, Thursday, March 24, 2016 at the James A. McAlister Chapel, 1620 Savannah Hwy, Charleston. Interment will follow at Live Oak Memorial Gardens on Highway 61.Flowers are graciously welcomed or donations may be made to the Center for birds of prey www.centerforbirdsofprey.org.