Donna McAllister

Donna Faye McAllister, 81, of Chattanooga, passed away Wednesday, June 13, 2018, in a local hospital. She was born July 21, 1936, in Chattanooga to the late Hardy D. and Mary Ruth Johnson. Mrs. McAllister was a teacher at East Brainerd Elementary for many years. She was affectionately known by her students as “Memaw”. She laid claim to more than 1000 “grandchildren” she had taught throughout the years. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Samuel McAllister Sr.; son, John Samuel McAllister Jr.; brothers, David and Curtis Johnson; and sister, Sylvia Johnson. Survivors include her children, Matthew Hardy (Babs) McAllister, of Soddy-Daisy, Tenn., Karen Deniese (Lin) Guethlein, of Charleston, Tenn., and Mark Anthony McAllister, of Woodstock, Ga.; sister, Judy (Linton) Gilreath, of Chattanooga, Tenn.; grandchildren, Wendie (Alex) Miller, of Ooltewah, Tenn., Wes (Kelly) McAllister, of Ooltewah, Tenn., Cassie (Chris) Loizeaux, of Chattanooga, Samantha (Alex) Baskette, of Nashville, Tenn., Lindon, James, and Elizabeth Guethlein, of Charleston, Tenn., Alyse (Tyler) McCullen, of Cleveland, Tenn., Josh McAllister and Kristen Borden, of Chattanooga; great-grandchildren, Lydia Faye Miller, of and Mackenzie and Macie McAllister, of Ooltewah, Tenn., Ruthie Loizeaux, of Chattanooga, Kaylee and Jackson McCullen, of Cleveland, Tenn.; former daughters-in-law, Cherie Ratcliff, of Chattanooga and Lisa Jacocks, of Ringgold, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews. There will be no services or visitation. She will be laid to rest with her late husband at Chattanooga National Cemetery. Arrangements are by the East Brainerd Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 8214 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastBrainerdChapel.com.