FREEPORT ? Joseph Edward Gallant Jr., 79, of Freeport died Saturday, April 13, 2002, at the home of his daughter. He was born in Hampden, Feb. 5, 1923, the son of Joseph Edward and Anna (Toole) Gallant. Joseph grew up in Brewer and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps before World War II. When the war started, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, serving from 1942 to 1945. After the war he returned to Waterville, married Doris Mary LaBrie and started to work for the Maine Central Railroad. They were married until her death in 1976. Mr. Gallant retired from the railroad in 1978. He also was married to Jeanette Bolduc in 1978 and they moved to Florida. Joseph returned to Maine in 1997. Mr. Gallant was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He volunteered for Meals On Wheels and was an avid cribbage player. In his younger years, he enjoyed woodworking and built much of his own furniture. He also played baseball when he was younger and was known to many as 'Tubby' or 'Cigar Joe.' Joe was predeceased by his first wife and his daughter, Sandy Dearborn. He is survived by his second wife, Jeanette Gallant, of Fla.; three sons, Patrick Edward Gallant and his wife, Barbara, of Attleboro, Mass., Michael Joseph Gallant and his wife, Regina, of Dunnellon, Fla., and James Timothy Gallant and his wife, Sue, of West Gardiner; three daughters, Sally Rose Devine and her husband, James, of Colorado Springs, Colo., Sharon L. Gallant, of Sidney and Susan Mary Gallant and her husband, Steven Hayes, of Freeport; a brother, James Ronald Gallant and his wife, Barbara, of Arbor Vitae, Wis.; 16 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. A gathering of remembrance will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 20, at Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church St., Augusta. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, New England Affiliate, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701-4688.