In Loving Memory of Kelly Ann Gallagher-Abbott

Kelly Ann Gallagher-Abbott passed away on October 7, 2025, at the age of 60, following a courageous nine-year battle with melanoma.

Born on February 4, 1965, in Fort Collins, Colorado, to Joseph and Madaline Gallagher, Kelly lived a life defined by compassion, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to others. She grew up alongside her brother, Tim, developing the warmth, curiosity, and artistic spirit that would guide her throughout her life.

After graduating from Poudre High School in 1983, Kelly enrolled in a diploma nursing program through Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in partnership with the University of Denver.

During Kelly’s second year of nursing school, she agreed to go on a four-day ski trip with a classmate—who happened to be Jim’s sister-in-law—and Jim’s brother. Since Jim and Kelly had never actually met, the trip was essentially a multi-day blind date. Between the long car rides, sharing accommodations with people she didn’t know well, and spending hours together on the slopes, it was quite the introduction. Rather than feeling the pressure, there was an immediate spark and excitement in getting to know someone new. They spent Kelly’s final year of school building a long-distance relationship, relying on long phone calls, handwritten letters, and visits whenever they could.

After graduating in 1986, Kelly moved to Cupertino, California, to be with Jim. The two were married on October 17, 1987, in her hometown of Fort Collins. A year later, they settled in Tustin, California, where they began building their life together and raising their family.

During their years in Southern California, Kelly balanced two deeply meaningful careers while raising her children. As a registered nurse from 1987 to 2006, she worked in acute care and labor and delivery, offering skill, knowledge, and compassion to patients and families during some of life’s most important moments. Even amid the demands of family life, she found time to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1994.

At the same time, Kelly’s passion for quilting blossomed into a second vocation. What began as a creative outlet grew into a remarkable body of work and leadership within the quilting community. She served as president of her local quilt guild and of the Southern California Council of Quilt Guilds, supporting and connecting dozens of guilds across the region. She founded Jukebox Quilts, which evolved from a mail-order business into a thriving online enterprise, and became widely recognized for her expertise in longarm quilting.

Kelly’s artistry and knowledge made her an internationally sought-after teacher and lecturer. She shared her passion at conferences, trade shows, and guilds around the world, inspiring countless quilters with her skill, generosity, and enthusiasm. Her work reached broader audiences through her role as quiltmaker and hand model in the 1996 film How to Make an American Quilt, appearances on HGTV’s Simply Quilts, and through numerous books, patterns, and magazine articles she authored and illustrated.

In 2006, Kelly and her family (including two dogs and a cockatiel) moved to Fort Collins, Colorado. There, she continued her work in public health nursing while expanding Jukebox Quilts alongside Jim. Together, they grew the business both online and by opening a retail store that provided sewing and quilting machines, supplies, education, and technical support to the quilting community. Kelly remained an active educator, continuing to teach and lecture nationally and internationally. Even during the depths of her cancer battle, she chose to share her knowledge one final time as a guest lecturer at Colorado State University from 2022 to 2024, teaching advanced textiles to undergraduate students and lifelong learners.

Kelly’s influence extended beyond teaching and business into the world of curation. She dedicated years to developing, judging, and organizing major traveling quilt exhibitions. As curator of the Hoffman Challenge from 2003 to 2009, she oversaw multiple national touring collections each year. She also curated Thread Tails and Vapor Trails for the U.S. Naval Aviation Foundation’s centennial celebration and co-curated the Route 66 historic quilt exhibit, which traveled across the country from 2013 to 2016.

In every aspect of her life, Kelly brought together precision and creativity, discipline and warmth. Whether caring for patients, teaching students, mentoring quilters, or creating art, she left a lasting impression on those around her. Her legacy is one of healing, artistry, education, and deep generosity of spirit.

Kelly is survived by her loving husband of 38 years, Jim; her children, Karlee, Kyle, and Ryan; her father, Joseph Gallagher; and her brother, Timothy. She was preceded in death by her mother, Madaline Gallagher, who passed away just three days before her on October 4, 2025.

She will be profoundly missed by all who knew her and were touched by her life.

In honor of Kelly’s courageous journey, donations may be made to the Melanoma Research Foundation (https://melanoma.org)

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