Sharon McAllister passed away due to complications from brain surgery on 10 April 2019. She was born on 15 September 1941 to Lloyd Jacklin and Ruby Yeager Jacklin in Twin Falls, ID. The oldest of three children, she grew up camping and fishing with the family in the mountains around Salt Lake City. After graduating from South High School in 1959, Sharon attended The University of Utah where she was active in the Lambda Delta Sigma co-ed Greek society. At a dance for this student association, Sharon met Robin L.W. McAllister and they married in the spring of 1962 in the Salt Lake City Temple. Sharon took a teaching position after graduating from the U with a degree in communications and a minor in music.
Within a few years the couple moved to northern California, eventually raising seven daughters in San Jose and Gilroy. Sharon still loved to camp and the family took many camping vacations over the years, first in tents and then trailers. She never forgot to bring anything, and was typically so well equipped that the packing alone took most of a day to accomplish. Sharon was a gifted pianist and choral director and led a women's singing group called The Choralettes. She also loved theater and occasionally had dramatic parts in local plays. As the family grew, Sharon was always involved in the activities of each child, using her talents to help them in turn develop theirs. A partial list of her many contributions would include choirs and singing groups of all ages, theater productions, band, roadshows, the Gilroy Garlic Festival, girls camp and sporting activities. She loved to sew and made many fantastic costumes, ball gowns, comfort blankets, and quilts through the years.
Sharon loved music. When she realized there was no music program at the local elementary school, she began a student choir. After many years of volunteering in this position, she was hired full-time, and then returned to school to get her Master's Degree in Education and Curriculum Design while continuing to teach a full schedule. She taught junior high choir and elementary music at many schools in the Gilroy District, touching the lives of over 10,000 children in her career.
As a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Sharon served in many callings throughout her membership, notably as a seminary teacher, Relief Society president and choir director. After moving back to Salt Lake City in 2000, she and Robin served a church service mission in the Family History Center in 2005-2006 and were currently serving in the Salt Lake Inner City Mission.
Sharon loved crafts, Hawaii, reading, writing, fashion accessories, lace curtains, giving gifts and attending or throwing a party, anywhere, anytime. She loved everyone and was well-known to take in "wanderers" of all types. There was always room in her heart and home for people who needed a place to be. We love her and know she loved us. We miss her and are grateful that she will always be ours!
Sharon is survived by her husband Robin, sister, Susan Booth (Ben), seven daughters, Ginger Trask Logan (Ted), Janet Orgill (David), Bonnie McAllister, Nancy Chappell (Wayne), Wendy Graham (Christopher), Mandy McAllister and Monica Cook (Trevor), 17 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents and brother, Lloyd Jacklin.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, April 20, with a viewing from 9:30-10:30am, at the LDS Chapel, 6890 South Whitmore Way, Salt Lake City. A viewing will also be held at Larkin Sunset Gardens on Friday evening, April 19, from 6:00-8:00pm (1950 E 10600 S, Sandy, UT). Interment at Murray City Cemetery.
Donations to the Huntsman Cancer Foundation appreciated in lieu of flowers. Additionally, the McAllister family wishes to thank the wonderful staff of Intermountain Medical Center for their kind and tender care of Sharon; your assistance and attention during this difficult time was greatly appreciated.
