Alfred McGilchrist

Alfred was born September 22, 1949 in Kingston, Jamaica to Aisley Constantine McGilchrist and Enid Maud Forrester. His father was a Master Baker at Excelsior Biscuit Company where his mother also worked for a while. She was a teacher and a Dressmaker who made clothes for the entire family.

Alfred attended Papine High School in which he was a track star. In 1969, Alfred got an overseas track scholarship offer from the then National Track and Field Coach of Jamaica and former World Record-breaker Olympian, the Honorable Herb McKenley, which was declined by his family. Alfred then attended Kingston Technical High School (K.T.H.S.) to set the foundation for his long Mechanical Engineering career. One day when Alfred was 21 years old, he caught his 14 year old brother Richard pushing out their father’s Morris Oxford car from the yard at 5:00 AM in the early morning in order to learn to drive. Alfred said to him “Brethren me want to learn to drive too” and together as a team they learned how to drive until an elderly man, Mr. Lewis, told their father that he saw the younger son reversing, with Alfred inside.

Alfred successfully graduated from College of Arts, Science and Technology (C.A.S.T.) as a Mechanical Engineer. His latest job was at The University of the West Indies, Physiology Department in Mona, Jamaica where he served as a Senior Workshop Technician from 1972 until retirement.

Alfred’s favorite car was a Mini Cooper since it was his first car and he liked that it was economical. He then went through different size vans, some in which he built himself with parts from the US. In later years, his admiration was for Jaguar. Whichever car it may be, Alfred would most likely have continued playing his favorite singer Nat King Cole’s songs in his vehicle.

Alfred is survived by his wife, Jean; brother, Richard; sister, Cheryl; sons, Andrew and Ricardo (Daphna); 3 grandchildren, Isaiah, Marley, and Amalia; and many other family members who loved him deeply.

A Celebration of Life for Alfred will be held Tuesday, April 26, 2022 from 6 - 7 PM at White Chapel Funeral Home (6600 NE Antioch Rd, Gladstone, MO 64119), followed by a Memorial Gathering.

In lieu of flowers, please send plants as Alfred liked them best.