William 'Leslie' Mcallister

William Leslie McAllister, Jr., was born on September 23, 1920 to William & Nellie (Loding) McAllister in Knob Noster, Missouri and passed away on July 9, 2013 in his home in Mtn. Grove, Missouri, at 92 years of age.
Leslie grew up on a farm outside Knob Noster, Missouri. As a boy, Leslie worked his dad's farm, was employed on neighbor farms, hunted raccoons with his hound, and enjoyed playing baseball. He graduated from Mountain Grove High School in 1939.
Upon learning of a "dependable" student who would be able to take over for one of the teachers, Hope Elizabeth Lancaster made it a point to get to know the responsible Leslie. The two became friends, watched nickel movies on Saturday afternoons, played baseball together and, as Providence would have it, became neighbors.
Six days before the bombing of Pearl Harbor Leslie married Hope. Carol Sue was born a year later, just a few months before he shipped off to the European Theater. In the Army Air Corps Leslie repaired Allied aircraft in England, earning a Bronze Star and a rank of Staff Sergeant in the 873rd Engineer Squadron. He was honorably discharged on November 7, 1945.
After the war, Leslie worked as a mechanic, fixing tractors and automobiles at the Ford Garage in Higginsville, Missouri, before beginning a career in construction. Their second child, Larry Kenneth was born in 1946 after the family moved to Mayview, Missouri, and Deborah Denise was born in 1954. While living in Mayview, Leslie served his community as a member of the school board, the road district board, and the city council.
As a commercial superintendent he oversaw the construction of the Southwestern Bell Telephone Building and the Federal Building in Kansas City, the Sunlife Building in Olympia, Washington and many other projects. He worked with integrity and was often asked to train other superintendents. Employed by Phillips, Collins, and Universal construction companies, his career spanned 50 years, retiring in 1984.
Leslie was a member of VFW Post 3770 and attended Liberty Faith Church in Norwood, Missouri. He lived his faith through service to others and by showing devotion to his family and his wife of 71 years.
Leslie and Hope spent many winters living in Alamo, Texas, where he pitched horseshoes and took his wife square dancing; they also worked with Oraila Parker's ministry to the poor in Mexico. He took many road trips to visit his family-- he taught grandchildren how to fish and took them to baseball games. He repaired relatives' homes, constructed homemade board games, and sincerely welcomed the fellowship of everyone.
He is survived by his wife: Hope, of their home in Mountain Grove; three children: daughter, Carol Lindsey, of Olympia, Washington; son, Larry McAllister and his wife, Nancy, Ocala, Florida; and daughter, Deborah Brown and her husband, Buzz, of Mountain Grove; nine grandchildren: Steve Wanager, Debby Graham (Kevin), Leif Wanager (Renee), Heather Lindsey, Robert McAllister (April), Jeff Pollock (Brandi), Loren McAllister (Suzy), Amy Wade (Josh), and Karey Brown; 21 great grandchildren: Kayley and Zachary Wanager; Danielle, Olivia, and Bethany Graham; Carly and Abi Wanager; William and Michael Dean; Jade, Samantha, Ryan, and Andrew McAllister, Milan and Bailey Pollock, Liam and Caelin McAllister, Kainan, Mikaela, (Baby due in August) Wade, and Joel Brown; one brother: Roy Kenneth McAllister of Kansas City, Missouri.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Willie and Nellie McAllister; two sisters: Dulce McAllister and Clayta Edwards Blevins; and by one brother: Edward Loding McAllister.
Those of us left here won't forget the sound of Leslie's endearing-yet-ornery chuckle while playing marbles, the seeming perfection of his double-ringers, the kindly manner of his earnest instruction, and his humble prayers before dinner.


Visitation: Saturday,

July 13th from 9:00 AM to
service time in the church.



Funeral Service: Saturday,
July 13, 2013 at 10:00 AM in

the Liberty Faith Church, Norwood, MO.



Burial: Hillcrest Cemetery



Memorial Contributions:
Liberty Faith Church CD Ministry
c/o the funeral home.