Obituary of Rev. McAlister

Rev. Eugene Barrows McAlister,97, of 140 Cook Hill Rd, Cheshire, died Friday Feb. 15,2008 at the Elim Park Health Care Facility. He and his wife moved to Elim Park in 1995. Born in Brunswick, Maine, October 19, 1911, a son of the late Milton V. & Blanche A. (Barrows) McAlister of South Paris, Maine He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 54 years, Mary (Sherburne) McAlister. Reverend McAlister graduated from Gorham High School in Maine in 1928. He graduated from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine in 1933 with a BA degree. He then went on to graduate from Andover Newton Theological Seminary in Newton Center, MA in 1936 earning a Bachelor of Divinity Degree. In 1937 he was awarded a degree Master of Sacred Theology at Andover Newton. Reverend McAlister was called to Congregational Churches in Lakota, and Crary, ND at the same time in 1937. He was ordained in the Congregational Churches in Lakota & Crary, ND on October 24, 1937 and remained there until 1941 when he was called to serve the Congregational Churches in Hillsboro & Mayville, ND. In 1942 Reverend McAlister enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served as Chaplain and then volunteered for overseas duty with Red Arrow 32nd Infantry Division and spent one year as Chaplain in the Philippines and Japan. Upon returning from Japan in 1946 he and Mary were married. Reverend McAlister was called to the Federated Church in Carrington, ND. In 1947 he was called to be Associate Minister in the Plymouth Congregational Church in Lincoln, NB, followed by a call to The Open Door Congregational Church in Minneapolis in 1948. In 1950 he was called to the First Congregational Church in Valley City, ND and served both that church along with several other churches in the area. After 15 years he then served a 3-year term as a Congregational Missionary in Japan. While in Japan he taught Conversational English at a night school in Kobe. After 3 years at the Mission School he and his wife returned to the U.S. and settled in Connecticut and served as the minister at the Beacon Falls Congregational Church in Beacon Falls, CT for 15 years. After retiring from there as a full time minister, he became a Minister of Pastoral Care at the First Congregational Church in Waterbury and served until full retirement in 1991. Two nieces, a nephew and many dear friends survive Reverend McAlister, especially Mary & Ellis Stewart of MN and Rev. & Mrs. Gordon (Marilyn) Vought of Beacon Falls, CT. He was predeceased by his sisters Clarise B. Armstrong and Lois B. Boyd. A special thank you to all of the staff at Elim Park who cared for him over the last few years. Reverend McAlister was a very soft spoken, caring & kind gentleman and will be missed by all. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the First Congregational Church of Waterbury, 222 West Main St. Burial will be in Pines Bridge Cemetery, Beacon Falls. Friends may call at the Fireside Room of the Church on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. The Alderson Funeral Home of Naugatuck, 201 Meadow St. is in charge of arrangements. In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First congregational Church Outreach Program, 222 West main St., Waterbury, 06702