William McAlister

WILLIAM SMITH MCALISTER, SR. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, February 20, 2009 in the Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers for William Smith McAlister, Sr. who died at 12:15 PM on Tuesday, February 17, 2009, at Lafayette General Medical Center in Lafayette. Reverend Howard Blessing, Pastor of Holy Cross Catholic Church, will conduct the funeral services. Musical selections will be "Amazing Grace", "In the Garden" and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic". Interment will take place at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens in Lafayette. Survivors include his two children, William S. McAlister, Jr. and his wife Ren'e of Lafayette, Willa Karen McAlister and her partner Juliette Pierce of Baton Rouge, and four grandchildren; William S. McAlister, III and his wife Jessica of Johnson City, TN, Patrick Randolph McAlister of Lafayette, Matthew Prem McAlister of Baton Rouge, and Ryan Phillip McAlister of Fort Benning, GA. He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Joanne Randolph McAlister, his parents, two sisters and one brother. Mr. McAlister was born in Shreveport, LA on January 17, 1923. He was the son of the late Donald and Worth McAlister. He was a WWII Veteran, having served in the Navy from 1942 until 1946 in the Pacific Theater. He was a 1950 graduate of Oklahoma University in Geological Engineering. He was a resident of Lafayette since 1956. He practiced his geological profession with Pan Am Southern in Shreveport from 1950 to 1954 and that was where he met his wife Joanne. He worked as Area Geologist for Stanolind Oil and Gas from 1954 to 1957, and opened an exploration office for Texas Eastern in the Lafayette Oil Center in 1957. He went on his own as an independent geologist in 1967. Mr. McAlister was a past member of AAPG, AIPG, and SIPES. He was a past member of Acadian Hills Country Club, Oakbourne Country Club and The Lafayette Petroleum Club. He also served in the Lafayette Geological Society as Secretary, Treasurer and Vice President. Among his greatest loves in life were fishing, hunting, bowling and golf, all of which he enjoyed with his family. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and will be dearly missed by all. The family request that the visiting hours be observed Thursday from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM and continue on Friday at 8:00 AM until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Mr. McAlister's name may be made to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston Street, Lafayette, LA 70503. Pallbearers will be William McAlister, III, Randy McAlister, Matthew McAlister and Ryan McAlister. Honorary Pallbearer will be Jim Morris. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, is in charge of the funeral arrangements.

William McAlister

January 17, 1923 - February 17, 2009