Elmo McAlister Obituary (1925

D.E. "Elmo" McAlister, 85, of Dover, AR, passed away Sunday, April 25, 2010 at his home. The son of Don and Nola Sayer McAlister, he was born January 15, 1925 in Dover. Elmo graduated from Dover High School in 1943 and attended Arkansas Tech. He married his high school sweetheart, Aileen Henderson. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in the Pacific Theatre. A true "devil dog", he fought with the 13th Marines On the island of Iwo Jima. Abel Battery backed up the 27th Marines, manning 75mm Howitzers, as they moved up the middle of the Island of Iwo Jima. He also served with the army of occupation of Japan. Following the war he worked as an electrician with the IBEW, (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) at various construction projects throughout the United States, including ANO. Elmo was a perpetual member of the Dover Masonic Lodge #17 and the Fort Smith Consistory, a charter member of the World War II Memorial Society and the DAV. He was a member of the Pleasant Grove Church of Christ. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Aileen; and a granddaughter, Jamie McAlister. He is survived by two sons, James D. McAlister and wife Helen, Dover, Larry E. McAlister and wife Cindy, Dover; two daughters, Deborah Witt, Dardanelle, Paula Spitler & husband Tom, Dover; 8 grandchildren, James R. McAlister, Melissa Talkington, Susan Self, Cheryl Hickman, Harley Spitler, Shoshana Spitler, Shannon Young and Shane Young; 12 great grandchildren; 1 great-great granddaughter. Funeral will be at 2:00PM, Thursday, April 29, 2010 at Humphrey Chapel. Jerry Turner and Jim Bob Humphrey will officiate. Burial will be at Pollard Cemetery at Dover by Humphrey Funeral Service. Full military honors will be provided by Rogers-Rye Post #2283 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Taps with echo will be played by his great granddaughter, Elizabeth Posey, and Kristen Royal. Visitation will be 6-7:30pm Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice, 2405 E. Parkway Ste-3, Russellville, AR 72802. (www.arkansashospice.org) Internet obituary and on-line guestbook are available at humphreyfuneral.com. PDF Printable Version