In Memory of Elton “Grandaddy” Gannaway

My name is Jeff Gannaway.  My dad and my hero, Talbert Elton Gannaway, Jr. fought the good fight, but finally succumbed to prostate/bone/brain cancer on September 10th, 2020 at 10:47am.   Finally got final obituary up, here’s the link... https://www.forevermissed.com/talbert-elton-gannaway/about

Dad was rarely ever even sick his entire life, had never even been hospitalized in his first 75 years of life except for a “false alarm” for pneumonia back in the 70’s. 

That was until his last 5 years of life in which he has had a multitude of health complications, one right after the other, which have, unfortunately, turned into a stack of medical bills from numerous doctors offices, hospitals, surgeons, rehab facilities, assisted living facilities, and hospice care facilities.  He had very good insurance, so luckily most of them (except for one, his brain surgery) aren’t that astronomical.  

Not only are we losing our “Grandaddy,” which is what we all called him (even me), we’re losing the best “roommate” anyone could ever wish for. He hasn’t just “lived with us” for the last eight years since he retired, he’s been an equal part of our household (including income).  

I have been my dad’s caregiver all these last five years, and over the last couple of years it has escalated to “full time,” which has made it difficult for me to work full time, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat as it gave me and dad the chance to be closer.  Plus, he was given the chance to be close to his first and only precious grandchild, Judah.

We will persevere, I can get back to working full-time now, he’s no longer in pain or constantly confused as he’s been the last year or so, and he doesn’t have to worry about catching Coronavirus.  

In lieu of flowers, we, his family request donations instead to help with the cost of his cremation and anything else that might come our way in the short term. Anything helps. 

For those who might be considering coming, his funeral will be on Friday, September 18, 2020 at 10:15am, at The Alabama National Cemetery, where he’ll receive a full military funeral for his eight years of service In the US Navy (1958-1964).  His cremains will be laid to rest there.  I do know that with COVID-19, there is a limit to 10 people under the canopy (closest family members) and 50 outside and around it.  Of course face covering and “social distancing is “required.”

Let us know if you would like to attend so we can keep a count.

Thank you.