Marilyn Anne Mains McAllister passed away at her daughter's home in Salt Lake City, Utah on July 24, 2014 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born August 15, 1947 in Carlisle, PA to the late Walter and Helen (Menges) Mains. Upon completion of her junior year at Eastern High School, Wrightsville, PA in 1964, she enrolled in the college of Nursing at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, where she was the recipient of a full tuition scholarship. She returned to graduate with her class and receive her high school diploma in 1965. When she married, she transferred to UCLA college of Nursing and received her BS degree in 1968.
She married Kenneth Fielding McAllister on June 20, 1967 in the Salt Lake Temple. They started married life in Los Angeles, CA and also lived in Littleton, CO and Webster Groves, MO before settling in Amelia, OH in 1977. She was employed as a nurse by TriHealth Cincinnati at both Bethesda Oak and Bethesda North Hospitals for thirty-three years.
When Marilyn was fifteen, she and her family investigated and became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She held many church leadership positions in the local and greater Cincinnati area Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary organizations. She taught an early morning seminary class for four years to high school students. She also loved teaching adult Gospel Doctrine, Sunday School classes and faithfully serving as church organist. Her last assignment was as a missionary in Malaysia with her husband.
She was a great supporter of her children's and grandchildren's activities. She served two years as PTO president of the middle school. She loved to travel in the United States but was also fortunate to visit countries all over the world in Europe, Asia, and Central and South America. She also enjoyed working in her very impressive garden.
She is survived by her husband, Kenneth, of 47 years and their six children: Marcia (Richard) Edwards, Amelia, OH; Karen (Michael) Wilkinson, Salt Lake City, Utah; Laurel (John) Larsen, Shanghai, China; Rebecca (C. Barr) Hill, Ladera Ranch, CA; Grant (Anna Reynolds) McAllister, Silver Spring, MD; and Heather (Colby) Park, Ft. Benning, GA; and twenty-eight grandchildren. Her three siblings are Elaine (Arvid) Mortensen, Bradley (Cheri) Mains, and Alan (Louise) Mains.
Friends and family are invited to attend a Memorial Gathering on August 2nd at 10:00 a.m. followed by a Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 8250 Cornell Rd., Montgomery, OH 45249.
Arrangements are handled by Larkin Mortuaries in Salt Lake City, UT and E.C. Nurre Funeral Homes in Amelia, OH.
Burial will take place at the Pierce Township Cemetery in Clermont County, OH. In Lieu of flowers, the McAllister family kindly suggests that memorials be made in her name to the LDS Charities Humanitarian Fund, 15 E South Temple JSMB 2E Salt Lake City, UT 84150, 801-240-5567, www.ldsphilanthropies.org.
