James Wilson 'J.W.' McAlister

James Wilson "J.W." McAlister, 89, went home to Heaven, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012. J.W. was born June 20, 1923, in Alex, Okla., to Evie Mary Timberlake McAlister and Frank James McAlister. J.W.'s parents were sharecroppers in Grady County, Okla., and J.W. went to school in Wayne, Okla. Marriage, divorce, the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl caused J.W.'s family to scatter, leaving young J.W. to fend for himself at the age of 15 years. At 17, he was able to join the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked at a camp near Cheyenne, Okla., until the outbreak of World War II. J.W. joined the Army in 1942. J.W. served his country honorably as a company clerk in an Infantry Battalion in England, Germany and France. J.W. came back to Oklahoma to live in Oklahoma City in 1946. There he met and married his wife of 64 years, Josephine "Jo" Elizabeth (Agnew) McAlister. J.W. joined the Oklahoma City Fire Department and worked as a firefighter, attaining the rank of captain, retiring after 27 years of service. J.W. was a hobby gardener, taking pride in the appearance of his home and yard. J.W. is survived by his wife, Jo; and four children, David McAlister and wife, Janet, of Charlotte, Tenn., Tom McAlister and wife, Evelyn, of Rogers, Ark. Jane Igo and husband, Robert, of Edmond, Okla., and Susan Stanford and husband, Rex, of Norman, Okla. J.W. and Jo had eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. J.W. was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Grover McAlister; and three sisters, Aileen Rippee, Marie Goldsby and Eloise Scarcinelli. J.W. died at home following a lengthy illness, during which he was administered to faithfully by his wife, two daughters, Jane and Susan, granddaughters Julie Dodge and Laura Young, and caregivers, Chrystal and Dannelle.