Gayle Patricia McAllister

GAYLE PATRICIA McALLISTER Gayle Patricia McAllister was born on January 2, 1949 to Kenneth H. Soule and Louise Eleanor Johnson and passed away at her home in Kaufman, Texas on July 31, 2015. She was raised in Cortland, New York and graduated from Oneonta College in 1971. A lifelong teacher and counselor, Gayle began her career by teaching elementary school. She raised her two daughters in Bel Air, Maryland where she worked at Harford Community College and the Community Colleges of Baltimore County teaching and directing programs for English as a Second Language and Adult Literacy. She also spent several years working as a counselor for pregnant and parenting teenagers at Open Doors, Inc. On December 28, 2002 Gayle married Tod H. McAllister in Bel Air, Maryland. Gayle spent the last eight years of her life in Kaufman, Texas where she worked for Richland College in Dallas teaching composition and grammar to adults learning English. She was awarded "Adjunct Faculty of the Year" for recognition of the compassion, care, and attention she provided each student. Her disposition was a result of how she loved and served God, bringing His spirit to every personal encounter. Nothing was more important to her than her relationship with Jesus and she worshiped and served Him gladly at Victory Church in Scurry, Texas. Gayle was a treasured friend to many and her ability to continually display her love with written notes and phone calls was one of her trademark qualities. Gayle loved art, music, photography, reading, cooking, exercising, and traveling to visit family. Her compassionate heart and kind, sincere nature was constant. Gayle is survived by her husband: Tod of Kaufman, daughters: Jessica L. Sweeney, of Severn, Maryland and Ashley S. Long of Mount Olive, North Carolina, stepsons: Ian McAllister and Sean McAllister both of Fort Worth, Texas, sister: Carol Y. Maxson and her husband Carlton of College Station, Texas, brother-in-law: Frank Natale of Cortland, New York, step-nephew: Jake Northrup of Fort Worth, Texas, four grandsons: Bradley Gilmore, Hayden McAllister, Maddrey Long, and Mason Long and many other relatives and friends. Gayle's life will be celebrated at two memorial services. One on Tuesday, August 4 at 11 am at Victory Church in Scurry, Texas and another on Saturday, August 22 at 10 am at Harford Community Church in Bel Air, Maryland. In Lieu of Flowers the family has requested memorials be made to Victory Baptist Church Project Fund, 7325 Highway 34, Scurry, Texas 75158.