Carmel Verona (Gallaway) O'Byrne

Carmel Verona (Gallaway) O’Byrne passed away at her home in Moses Lake, Wash on Saturday, April 2. She was born in Leavenworth Wash. to Carl and Verona (Abbott) Heinrich. She was the oldest child and had three sisters and one brother, Betty, Beverly, Gay Beth and Donald. She went to school in many places in Washington following her father’s job moves to different construction sites. She graduated from Wenatchee High School. She married Don Gallaway and had three children: Michael, who married Barbara and had three children (Guy, Rick and Mark); Joe, who married Molly and had three children (Nora, Sean and Donavan) and Kathy, who married Dick Aldrich. Don, her first husband, also worked construction but rather than traveling they purchased a family farm and settled in Moses Lake. Carmel worked on the farm and raised her children along with raising baby calves and strawberries and other crops. She taught ceramics classes and was a dedicated wife and mother as well as an artist, woodcarver, and craft maker. She loved her family and her favorite holiday was Christmas when as many as 50 children, grandchildren and friends would assemble for dinner and to see Santa Claus and distribute presents. She often invited additional acquaintances without local family to celebrate with.

Later, five years after Don’s death, she remarried.

She married Dr. Stuart O’Byrne in 1994 and added three stepchildren to her family: Christopher, Joshua who married Krista and has two daughters Kennedy and Kamryn and Seth who married Jesse. Carmel and Stuart designed and built a new home on the lake across the street from the original farmhouse where her children grew up. She was a talented cook and energetic wife, supporting her husband’s medical career and often planning parties and get-togethers entertaining large groups of doctors and their wives for social functions. She traveled all over the United States to medical meetings and also went on numerous cruises. She took great pride in her garden and shared its produce with friends and family.

Carmel was preceded in death by her parents and her oldest son Michael, her sister Betty and brother, Donald. She is survived by her husband Stuart, their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

A service celebrating Carmel’s life will be conducted at New Beginnings Christian Center church, 318 W North Shore Dr. on Saturday, April 9 at 1 p.m.. There will be a reception following the service. The family suggests a donation to the Shriners Children’s Hospital Spokane in lieu of flowers.