Bertha “Mae” Gallagher (Dickson) Vanderburg

Bertha "Mae" Gallagher (Dickson) Vanderburg, known affectionately as Mae to all who were dazzled by her infectious laughter, has taken her final bow on the grand stage of life. Born on October 11, 1936, in the humble town of Winthrop, AR, Mae embarked on a journey filled with joy and jest that lasted until September 7, 2024, when she peacefully exited the scene in Holton, KS, at the ripe age of 86, leaving behind a legacy of love and a trail of giggles.

Mae's early chapters were set against the backdrop of Winthrop, where she learned the art of storytelling and the power of a well-timed quip from her loving parents, John and Catherine Gallagher, and her band of nine siblings, all of whom had since taken their final curtain calls before her. Mae's plot took a twist when she ventured into the world of hairdressing, a profession where her sharp wit and snappy scissors made her a legend. She didn't just cut hair; she sculpted dreams and trimmed away the doldrums of life, all while running a successful salon in Las Vegas that became as iconic as the city's neon signs.

Mae's life was a tapestry of relationships, each thread vibrant with stories and laughter. She was the beloved matriarch to a lineage that would make any family tree blush with envy. Her son Austin "Dickey" Dickson, who predeceased her, no doubt greeted her with a heavenly hairdo. She leaves behind her son John William Dickson and his wife Pamela of Tracy, CA; her daughter Sandra Dickson of Topeka, KS; and her son Kenneth Allen Dickson of Scranton, KS, who had taken his leave before her. Mae's brood extended to grandchildren Amy, Andy, Mary Beth, Adam, Curtis, Joni, Katie, and Kerry, scattered from California to Missouri, and a bevy of 25 great-grandchildren plus a duo of great-great-grandchildren, all of whom were her favorite fishing buddies and confidantes.

Mae was a woman of many interests, but none more dear to her than fishing with her grandchildren, where she reeled in laughter as often as she did fish. She was a vault of life lessons, which she dispensed with the precision of her haircuts. Her passion for makeup and hairstyles was only rivaled by her knack for pinching pennies for a rainy day, because, as she would say with a wink, "You never know when you'll need to buy an umbrella in the desert."

Described as adventurous, interesting, and courageous, Mae was a walking, talking, living legend who approached life like she did her haircuts – with boldness, flair, and a little off the top when things got too serious. She was a comedienne without even trying, turning the mundane into punchlines and life's trials into anecdotes that could have you in stitches.

In the spirit of Mae's humor, let's invoke the words of the great Groucho Marx: "I intend to live forever, or die trying." Mae certainly lived by that creed, squeezing every ounce of fun out of life, and teaching us all that the best way to face the inevitable is with a smile on your face and a snappy comeback on your lips.

As we say our goodbyes to Mae, let's not mourn the closing of the curtain but instead give a standing ovation for a performance well lived. Her final act may be complete, but the echoes of her laughter will be the encore that reverberates in our hearts forever. Bertha "Mae" Gallagher (Dickson) Vanderburg, you were truly one of a kind, and the world is a little less colorful without you. Curtain down, spotlight off, but oh, what a show it was!