The Rev. Dr. Loring McAllister

Celebrations of life for The Rev. Dr. Loring William McAllister, 82, of Afton, took place Jan. 24, 2020, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Hastings, and also Jan. 31 at St. Mary’s Basswood Grove Episcopal Church, Hastings. Later private celebrations and the burial of ashes will be at family plots in Kansas and California. Messages to his wife, Lucy McAllister, Ph.D., may be directed to General Delivery, U.S. Post Office, Marshall.

He died peacefully at home on Veterans Day after a short illness.

He was born June 27, 1937, in Winnemucca, Nev., to Glendon William McAllister and Isabel Trenchard Loring McAllister and raised in San Francisco. He graduated from St. Ignatius High School, AA, St. Joseph’s College Mountain View, California. BA, psychology, The George Washington University; MA and PhD, clinical psychology, University of Kansas.

He served active duty in US Navy as communications officer with Cruiser/Destroyer Force, US Pacific Fleet, 1960-63; reserves for two more decades.

He was married April 29, 1967, in Lawrence, Kan., to Lucy Jean Remple McAllister. He is survived by his wife in Afton; their family of 13 foreign exchange students, one of two foster sons, and several members of extended family in California.

Professional experience began in 1968 in Marshall as a clinical psychologist and area program director with the Western Mental Health Center and as assistant professor of psychology at Southwest State University until 1973. He served the Minnesota Department of Public Welfare as assistant commissioner for comprehensive programs, the Dakota County Mental Health Center, and the University of Minnesota Psychology Programs.In 1981, became a partner in Martin-McAllister Consulting Psychologists, Inc. in industrial psychology in Minneapolis; retired in 2000.

Began studies in the Diaconate of the Episcopal Church in 1970 and served at St. James Episcopal Church in Marshall. Ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church in 1975 by The Rt. Rev. Philip McNairy. Served at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Hastings, and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Basswood Grove, MN. Participated in many Cursillo, Search and TEC events in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Remembered by many peers and close friends maintained through long years of shared service, work, and sailing with Explorer Boy Scouts in the Pacific; canoeing with Explorers, Mariner Girl Scouts, family and friends in the Boundary Waters; camping in national and state parks; and hiking, skiing and canoeing with Southwest Minnesota State students and faculty while living in Marshall.