Ruth Ann MacAllister

Ruth Ann Carson MacAllister, 96, died August 23, 2025. Born January 9, 1929 in Connellsville, Pennsylvania to Charles and Sarah Davis Carson, she graduated from The College of Wooster, where she met her future husband, Edward MacAllister. They married on September 22, 1951. His career with Exxon took them to several US cities and three years in Tehran, Iran before they settled in Houston in 1969.

In addition to working at Bell Labs and appearing on the cover of Weekly Reader, Ruth Ann taught advanced chemistry at Spring Branch and Northbrook High Schools, where she became chairman of the science department. During this time, she received her Master of Education from the University of Houston.

She was active in Central Presbyterian Church and the Heather & Thistle Society. At Bayou Manor, she was in charge of decorative window displays and ran the Saturday night bingo games. She enjoyed Scottish genealogy research, murder mysteries, and loved doing crossword puzzles in ink. She was a life-long supporter of Colonial Williamsburg and amassed a whole Christmas tree full of Williamsburg ornaments.

Her oldest grandchild, Adam, recalls, “I loved her persistent smile and the obvious enjoyment she had when she was with her family. She went out of her way to create opportunities to bring the family together, whether it was in Colorado, 7-Springs, the Lake House, Carnival Cruise Ships, their home in Katy, or the special events at Brazos Tower. Often you could see her Grandchildren take her way beyond her comfort zone but she always put the effort in to make every interaction special! The lessons she imparted continue to influence me; value and respect your family, appreciate your family's history and culture, study hard and work hard, and somehow always keep your house clean.”

Grandson Collin remembers doing crystal science experiments with her.

Both Collin and Brett enjoyed attending the yearly Burns Supper where they dressed in kilts, listened to bagpipes, and learned to love haggis.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Edward and son Andrew. She is survived by her son Craig MacAllister and wife Diane; daughter-in-law Heather MacAllister; grandchildren Adam MacAllister and wife Kate; Collin MacAllister and wife Robin; Andrea MacAllister and husband Jeremiah Vecs; Brett MacAllister and wife Daniela; and Daniel MacAllister and wife Sherrie. In addition, she has six MacAllister great-grandchildren: Blake, Gareth, Carson, Maximiliano, Grant, and Penelope. She will be deeply missed by all.