Jack Hugh McAllister was a man who valued the opportunity to serve others—God and the church, JoAnn Nelson McAllister, his wife of 29 years, his country, his employees, and his community. He was born in Deport, Texas on August 2nd, 1937 to Mark Morris McAllister of Bogota, Texas and Thelma Odessa Cheshire of Fulbright, Texas. He was a kind and generous man who came from humble roots. His father died when he was only 5. His mother, brothers and sister moved to the Dallas area, and later to Irving, Texas where all of the children worked from an early age to support the family. He had a paper route when he was 12. He graduated from Irving High School in 1956 where he excelled in baseball as a pitcher, was the captain of the football team, and played forward on the basketball team. After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He served the Air Force in Japan from 1957-1961 in communications as a Morse code operator. Jack’s love of country was demonstrated by his willingness to thank military personnel for their service at restaurants, gas stations or anytime he saw a military insignia on someone.
Jack loved God and the church. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Paris, Texas. He loved singing in the choir, leading the United Methodist Men’s group, and building homes with youth groups outside of Juarez, Mexico on the Mexico Mission team. He also loved his brothers and sisters in Christ from the North East Texas Emmaus Community. He worked behind the scenes in multiple roles for many Men’s Walks and served as a Lay Director. He loved all of his church family, and especially his best friend of 60 years, Mike Anderson of Reno, Texas.
Jack took pride in his work as a machinist. He was instrumental in building T & K Incorporated from the time it was established in 1968. He served as Plant Manager for 31 years over the manufacturing of engineered, precision-machined airframe components and light assemblies for commercial and military aerospace products.
He loved fishing, dove hunting, riding motorcycles, and his family. He touched so many lives and will be missed by all that knew him. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Mark Morris McAllister Jr., James Willard McAllister, Billy Wayne McAllister and granddaughter Meredith Lynn Thomas.
He is survived by wife JoAnn Nelson McAllister of Paris, Texas, sister Joyce Starnes & husband Clifford of Bonham, Texas, son Randy McAllister & wife Misty of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, daughter Lisa McAllister-Wood & husband Michael Wood of Chicota, Texas, daughter Kelly Lyon and husband Tim of Reno, Texas. Step-daughter Angie Pattison and husband Warren of Tampa, Florida, step-son Kevin Woodroof and wife Laura of Paris, Texas.
He is also survived by multiple grandchildren: Sara Elizabeth Strube, Austin Kyle Strube, Allison Brooke Strube, Bailie Rae McAllister, Jordan Leigh Jackson, Ian Thomas Woodroof, Hailey Mae Woodroof, and Luke Laurencio Pattison. Three great-grandchildren: Josephine Leigh Jackson, Jaimeson Kyle Jackson, and Violet Ida McClary.
An informal private service will be held at 2pm, Monday, December 14th at First United Methodist Church’s Youth & Ministry building in Paris, Texas by Pastor William H. Coleman. Afterwards, a eulogy will be provided graveside at Sylvan Cemetery in Lamar County by Pastor Michael Wood. Serving as pallbearers are Hailey Woodroof, Luke Pattison, Perry Neeley, Ian Woodroof, Randy McAllister, and Tim Lyon.
In lieu of flowers, memorials should be sent to NET Emmaus Community, Lone Star, Texas www.netemmaus.org or CitySquare of Paris, Texas, www.citysquare.org
