Obituary of John Thomas Gilligan

John Thomas Gilligan, III, of Newark Valley died December 31, 2015 at Wilson Hospital. John was a Life Scout with St. Patrick’s Church, a member of the Vestal Elks Lodge, and attended Drummonds and Millington schools near Memphis, TN, before graduating from Owego Free Academy in 1996. He was a strong believer in working his way up and spent 21 years at A.C. Moore where he was a manager. John was a kind, fun-loving father, son and friend and emulated the esprit de corps of the Marines which showed in his unfailing patriotism. When faced with his illness, his motto was “it is what it is,” and he always put others before himself. John is survived by his mother, Catherine Gilligan, his children, Zowie Marie Gilligan, John T. (L.J.) Gilligan IV, Alexis Lee Gilligan and Ella Lynn Gilligan. Also surviving are his sisters; Mary Catherine (Joel) Wood of North Carolina, Bridget (Mark) Dexter of North Carolina, Margaret G. (Adam) Fain of California, Anne Elizabeth Gilligan of North Carolina, and Donna Marie Gilligan of Pennsylvania; his foster father, Randy Varney; foster brothers, Kevin and Chris; foster sister, Kelly (Jim) Carr; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He will be missed by all who knew him, especially his dear friends, Weston Smith and Steve Bruster. John was predeceased by his paternal grandfather, John T. Gilligan, Sr. and grandmother Laura Gilligan McHale, maternal grandparents, John B. and Catherine M. Hough; step-grandfather, Gerald McHale; his father John T. Gilligan Jr.; his foster mother , Donna Varney; sister, Anne H. Gilligan. A funeral service will be held at St. Patrick’s Church , 300 Main Street in Owego on Tuesday, January 5, at 10:00 am. The family will receive friends at the Estey, Munroe & Fahey Funeral Home, 15 Park St. in Owego on Monday, January 4th from 4 pm to 7 pm. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Owego. Condolences may be made to John’s family at www.emfaheyfuneralhome.com. “Always Faithful.”