Gregory Lee Gallaway

Gregory Lee Gallaway
August 2, 1989 – December 5, 2024

Gregory Lee Gallaway, of Orange, California, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, December 5, 2024. He was born on August 2, 1989, in Lansing, Michigan, the beloved son of Cynthia Rivera and Gregory A. Gallaway.

Gregory grew up in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, and later earned a degree in Cybersecurity from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. During his time at EMU, he led teams in regional hacking competitions through the Information Assurance Student Association, forging lifelong friendships along the way.

Gregory’s career in cybersecurity began at General Electric, where he was selected for a prestigious leadership program. He later joined CrowdStrike, a world-renowned cybersecurity company specializing in cutting-edge cloud protection and threat intelligence. Gregory’s work in malware research, incident response, and software development helped defend countless organizations against sophisticated cyber threats.

Chasing his dreams, Gregory relocated to California, where he thrived in the sunshine, seized exciting opportunities, and became part of a vibrant community. One of his proudest achievements was purchasing his first home, a place where he could fully embrace his passions and create a life filled with meaning and joy.

Gregory was a talented pitmaster who loved smoking meat on his Yoder smoker, winning competitions and sharing his culinary skills with pride. He also found a second family performing with the Improv Collective in Costa Mesa, California, where his quick wit, mischievous sense of humor, and infectious joy lit up the stage. Among his many passions, Gregory cherished restoring his beloved 1966 Mustang.

Gregory is preceded in death by his grandfather, Ernesto Rivera. He is survived by his dear friend Jazmine Chavira; his mother, Cynthia Rivera; his father, Gregory A. Gallaway; his siblings, Andrea (Shaun) Miller, Michael (Erin) Karkau, Vincent Karkau (and his five dogs), and Elena Gallaway; his nephews, Anthony, Noah, and Maximus; and his nieces, Kayla, Ava, and Clara. He is also survived by his grandparents, Francis and Sue Gallaway and Maria Rivera.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Michigan on August 2, 2025 (details TBD). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Improv Collective at improvcollective.fun, honoring Gregory’s love for local theatre.

Gregory will be remembered for his genuine nature, passion for life, and the light he brought to everyone he knew. Online condolences may be made at www.lehmanfuneralhomes.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gregory Lee Gallaway, please visit our floral store.