Hope Mcallister

Hope Elizabeth Lancaster McAllister was born April 5, 1924, in Asbury, Missouri, to Gladys Marie (Burgess) Lancaster and Leonard Lancaster. She departed this life December 17, 2021, at the age of 97 years, 8 months, and 12 days, at her home in Mountain Grove, Missouri.

As a young child her family moved to the Mountain Grove area where Gladys remarried and Hope was raised by Roscoe Smith, whom she considered her “Daddy.” She was one of twelve children when the families were combined.

Hope attended a one room country school through eighth grade, then attended Mountain Grove and Cabool High Schools, and graduated from Joplin High School (which she attended after marrying).

Hope was married to William Leslie McAllister on December 1, 1941 (6 days before Pearl Harbor). To this union was added Carol Sue, a year later. Shortly after that Leslie headed to war. Hope moved with Carol to Washington where she worked as a welder in the Vancouver shipyards. When the war was over, Larry Kenneth was born followed eight years later by Deborah Denise.

During their working years they lived in Mayview, Missouri, where she was a member of Mayview First Baptist Church. Leslie and Hope owned Mayview Mercantile for a while. Hope worked in several factories as a seamstress. Leslie was a commercial construction superintendent mostly working in the Kansas City area, but did out of state jobs in Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, and Washington. Hope loved to travel with him.

Upon retirement they moved back to Mountain Grove. They first lived north of Dunn and then moved into town. Hope was a member of Liberty Faith Church in Norwood and loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

After retirement they spent the winters in Texas where they square danced and did volunteer mission work with Texas Border Missions.

Hope was an artist; she loved to paint with oils having won a prize for her painting of Tom Selleck. She also painted china. Hope always had a project of some type going from crocheting afghans to making decorations for Christmas trees to needle work with canvas, fabric painting, sewing etc. Hope loved to play games including what the family calls Missouri Marbles, Rummikube, SkipBo, and Hand and Foot.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gladys and Roscoe Smith, her husband of 71 years, Leslie, and seven of her siblings. She is survived by her daughter, Carol Lindsey of Olympia, WA, son, Larry (Carolyn) McAllister of Zephyrhills, FL and her daughter, Debbie (Buzz) Brown of Mountain Grove, 9 grandchildren: Steve (Lisa) Wanager, Leif (Renee) Wanager, Debby Graham, and Heather (Gryphon) McForrest, Robert (April) McAllister, Loren McAllister, Jeff (Brandy) Pollock, Amy (Brandon) Fillinger, and Karey Lynch. She is also survived by 22 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Ruth Tatum, Phyllis (Dick) Wolfe, and Donna (Bill Decker) and her brother, Bill (Sheryl) Smith.