Catherine "Cat" Mae Harter McAllister

Catherine Mae Harter McAllister, 82, widow of Mr. John Andrew McAllister, Sr., died peacefully, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011 at Carlisle Nursing Center. She was born Oct. 1, 1929, in Ninety Six, SC. She lived in Mount Carmel, SC, before retiring in 2005 to Covenant Way Retirement Center in Due West, SC.

She attended Ninety Six public schools and graduated from Lander College with a degree in Elementary Education/Music. She taught elementary grades in Sumter, SC, and Abbeville, SC, before raising her family in Mt. Carmel and helping to build the family's furniture, farm and forestry businesses.

Cat was involved with numerous civic and community organizations including: Abbeville Historical Society, Abbeville Opera House Board Member, Converse College Parents Council Chair, Cub Scout Den Mother and Cambridge Academy Parents Association. She was also a member of the Mt. Carmel/Abbeville Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church.

She was known for her love of family, especially her grandchildren, traveling and her enthusiastic laugh! She was devoted to her Mt. Carmel Yacht Club and Lunch Bunch friends.

In addition to her husband, and parents, the late Andy Wesley Harter and Rosa Mae Harrison Harter of Ninety Six, she was preceded in death by two infant sons, James Jones McAllister and Darrell Wesley McAllister.

She is survived by five children: son, John A. McAllister Jr., and wife Carolyn C. Matthews of Columbia; son, T. Edwin McAllister and partner Paul Meyer of Washington DC; daughter, Cathy M. Watson and husband, J. Calhoun Watson of Columbia; son, Westley D. McAllister, and wife Angel. F. McAllister of Mt. Carmel; and daughter, Mary S. McAllister of Columbia. She leaves behind grandchildren: Anne Leigh and Sarah Elizabeth McAllister of Louisville, Ky.; Catherine Tatum Watson, Joseph Calhoun "Jay" Watson, Jr., Elizabeth Kirkland "Bess" Watson of Columbia, Thomas Edwin McAllister of Anderson, Charles Jacob "Jake" McAllister of Mt. Carmel and Austin A. Bruner and husband Collin Bruner of Charleston as well as great grandchild, Martha Bennett Bruner; also a sister, Diane Harter Boyd of Ninety Six and a brother, Fred Harter of North Augusta, SC; two nieces, great nieces, great nephews, cousins and close family friend Mike Fowler of Mt. Carmel.

Visitation and memorial service will be conducted at the Due West Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011. Visitation will be in the church fellowship hall at 12:30 pm with the memorial service following at 2:00 pm with the Dr. Rev. Randle T. Ruble and Rev. Lee P. Kennerly officiating. A 4:30 pm burial will take place at the Mt. Carmel Cemetery.

The family is at the home of Ed McAllister and Wes McAllister in Mt. Carmel, SC.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to: Covenant Way Retirement Center PO Box 307 Due West, SC 29639 or Lander University Foundation 320 Stanley Ave. Greenwood, SC 29649-2099.

Visitation

Due West ARP Church Fellowship Hall
Saturday, November 5, 2011
12:30 pm

Service

Due West ARP Church
112 North Main St
Due West, SC  29639
Saturday, November 5, 2011
2:00 pm

Interment

Mt. Carmel Cemetery
Hwy 81
Mt. Carmel ,  SC  29840