Mr. Daniel Efren Gallardo, of Dalton, Georgia, departed this life on Saturday morning, June 27, 2026, at his residence.

Daniel was born February 14, 1939, in Hidalgo del Parral, Chih., Mexico, a son of the late Ramon Gallardo and Saturnina Torres de Gallardo. He was retired from Galaxy Carpet Mills, Inc.

Daniel was preceded in death by his beloved wife of sixty-eight years, Lucrecia “Quecha” Gallardo, who died October 11, 2023, a daughter, Teresita Gallardo, granddaughter, Lily Calvillo, and a brother, Antonio Torres.

He was a quiet observer. He wasn’t the loudest person in the room, and he never needed to be. He had a quick wit, and when he did speak, he usually had us all laughing, including himself.

He was happiest at home, watching everyone enjoy being together, whether that was in person or reliving old memories through home videos. He loved holding and feeding his grandbabies and great-grandbabies, and if he wasn’t doing that, he was working on one of his many DIY projects.

He is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Oscar and Nancy Gallardo of Cohutta, GA, Antonio and Rosa Gallardo, Jesse and Teresa Gallardo; daughters and sons-in-law, Rosa and Antonio Hurtado, Chela Gallardo Salazar, Lupe and Mario Azua, Alicia and Jaime Martinez all of Dalton, GA; brother, Francisco Maldonado of El Paso, TX; sisters, Carmen Ellis of Denver, CO, and Adela Ramirez of Anthony, NM; nineteen grandchildren, thirty-one great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.

Services to celebrate the life of Mr. Daniel Efren Gallardo, will be held Thursday, July 2, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Ponders Melrose Chapel with Reverend Praxedis Gomez officiating. He will be laid to rest with his beloved wife at Ponders Colonial Hills Memorial Park Cemetery and Mausoleum with Jesse Gallardo, Mark Gallardo, Jaime Martinez, Tony Hurtado, Daniel Salazar, Juan Salazar, David Salazar, and Eduardo Ortega honored to serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at Ponders Melrose Chapel from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Wednesday and after 9:00 a.m. Thursday morning until the service hour.

Arrangements are entrusted to Ponders Melrose Chapel, 138 Melrose Drive, Dalton, GA 30721, (706) 226-4002.