Shirley Litton McAllister

Shirley McAllister, died on Wednesday, the 23rd of September 2026. She was born on the 27th of July 1933, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Edwin and Marie Litton. Shirley lost her mother when she was 9. Her father married Gladys Kidd in 1944. Gladys was a devoted mother to Shirley.

She graduated from Southwest High School in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1951. She attended the University of Kansas, receiving a BA in Occupational Therapy in 1956.

While in California doing post-graduate work, Shirley met John Netherton McAllister (1929–1989). They married on the 24th of May 1957, and were happily married for thirty-two years until John's death in 1989.

Shirley worked as an occupational therapist in Baltimore, Maryland, while John finished seminary. In 1968 she returned to work part-time in occupational therapy in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she remained until moving to Mississippi in 1972. She taught Pre-K and art at St. John's Day School in Laurel, Mississippi. After moving to Texas in 1982, she returned to occupational therapy at Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital in Beaumont, Texas. Upon their move to Houston in 1985, Shirley began work at Southwest Memorial Hermann Hospital, retiring in 1995. Shirley was proud that her daughter Lorraine followed her into the profession.

Shirley was an active member of St. Martin's Episcopal Church for over forty years. She co-founded the Prayer Shawl Ministry, which provides handmade shawls, blankets, and scarves to those in need. For many years, she led the Contemplative Prayer group. She was a longtime volunteer and, in recent years, a participant in the Gathering at St. Martin's. She was a graduate of the four-year Education for Ministry Program under the direction of the School of Theology of the University of the South. She was also a member of OPUS. Before joining St. Martin's, Shirley served as a Sunday school teacher, a Vacation Bible School volunteer, and a Girl Scout leader.

Shirley's life was characterized by her quiet, self-effacing service to and care for others. Having lost her mother at an early age, she always had a sympathetic ear for the sufferings of others and collected a large and eclectic circle of devoted friends throughout her life. She was a steady, reliable, loving parent to her four children. She was patient in suffering, infinitely adaptable, and unwavering in her faith and service to others. She was a devoted caretaker for her own father and stepmother until their deaths.

She was also a delightful person. She was a gifted and enthusiastic artist, excelling in painting, batik, needlework, and especially knitting and quilting. She passed along her love of puzzles and board games like Rummikub and Scrabble (including a highly competitive family variation called "Speed Scrabble") to all of her children and grandchildren. She was a near-religious reader of The New Yorker, saving its colorful cover page for art projects. She baked a million birthday cakes, wrapped a million presents, and sent a million birthday cards to children and grandchildren. She traveled extensively well into her eighties and especially loved visiting family. After retirement, she enjoyed "art vacations" with her children at the John C. Campbell Folk School.

She is survived by four children, Lorraine Street and husband Martin, Jeannette Baker and husband Drew, Emilie Powers and husband Richard, and Edwin McAllister and partner Bettina Kuhn; eight grandchildren, Mary Alex Thigpen and husband Peyton, Emilie Street, John Baker and wife Grace Dennis, Walter Baker and wife Taylor, Caroline Powers and husband Charles Archambeau, William Powers, Benjamin Powers, and Mary Banks McAllister; and four great-grandchildren, Alice Anne, Franklin, and Sally Thigpen, and Annabelle Baker.

The family extends its deep gratitude to Mary Hodge, Tracey Gordon, Elaine Montgomery, and Veronica Graham for the outstanding care they gave Shirley during her final years.

A Memorial Service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 19th of October, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston, where Rev. Sharron L. Cox, and Rev. Lisa R. Neilson are to officiate.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the adjacent Bagby Parish Hall.

Prior to the service, the family will gather for a private inurnment at St. Martin’s Garden of the Holy Cross.

For those unable to attend, you may join via livestream by selecting the “Join Livestream” icon in the service information section.

You may also wish to take a moment to share words of comfort and condolence with her family.

In lieu of the customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude the donations in Shirley's memory be directed either to St. Martin's Episcopal Church or to the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina by selecting the respective link below under "Donations."