Brian Gallaher Remembered By Cleveland Friends & Family

CLEVELAND,TN, (WDEF)-Voices were raised and tears fell as teacher, music director and father of 2 Brian Gallaher was laid to rest Monday.

Pastor Kelvin Page, Westmore Church of God,"One thing about this community and our church and about this region and area over the years i think we have learned how to be sad and celebrate at the same time".

A packed Westmore Church of God bid farewell to Gallaher as dozens more crowded outside.

Shawn Perkinson, Friend & Band Member,"He was the leader in the horn section with that ensemble as well as the orchestra leader here at Westmore, he and i also played a few jazz gigs together wedding receptions and such."

Representatives from Bradley County Schools and Sheriff’s Office were on hand along with Cleveland PD.

Shortly after 3pm a procession made its way from Westmore to Ocoee Middle School honoring a man described as a musical genius.

Evie West, Cleveland Police Dept,"He was a very influential person in this community he touched and impacted a lot of lives at Ocoee Middle school with the administrators, the teachers, the students and the parents and has been there for 14 years".

Gallaher leaves behind two young children and a wife.
He was 37 years old.

The NTSB, Chattanooga PD and Tennessee Highway patrol are all investigating the Exit 11 wreck which took the lives of 5 others including two children.