A Grand Lady

Reaching her 100th birthday on Sept. 22, 2009, Louise Callister celebrated this special occasion in St. George, Utah at the home of her daughter and son-in-law (Bev and Joe Macari). A family celebration was held earlier with the majority of her family members in attendance.

Louise was born in Albion, Idaho to David and Louise Wickel Lewis. Her mother died two weeks following her birth. Louise and her older sister were raised by their dad, grandparents, aunts and uncles. She married J. Lloyd Callister in 1929 and they were married for 64 years until his passing in 1993. Lloyd and Louise were both schoolteachers and after their marriage, they moved to Tooele and taught school in the Pine Canyon Elementary School — she taught grades 1 through 3 and Lloyd taught grades 4 through 6. Louise put her teaching career “on hold” while raising her family.

She is the mother of six children: Gloria, Pat (deceased), Bev, Gary (deceased), Billie (deceased) and Betty. She has 13 grandchildren (1 deceased), 30 great grandchildren and 10 great-great grandchildren plus an addition of twin girls expected in November. One great-great grandchild (Paige Palmer) celebrated her birthday on the same day — just 93 years age difference. Louise also has a special daughter-in-law (Sharon), three special sons-in-law (Carsten, Chuck and Joe) and a special sister-in-law (Alie).

She has lived through the horse and buggy days — the early days of aviation and seeing Charles Lindbergh land his plane to man landing and walking n the moon — World War I and II and seeing all the world conflicts including the 9/11 attacks on her country soil — victory celebrations — 2002 Winter Olympics in SLC — Presidential elections — miracles in medicine — electronic wonders — tragedies — happiness — unheard of or even unimaginable changes in the world history, inventions, science, music, literature, weather and travel sources, and she hopes to see many more wondrous things.

Louise spent her 100th birthday touring Zion National Park followed by a special dinner with her family where she received phone calls from family members and friends. She has been slowed down in the last few years because of macular degeneration and hearing loss, but she continues to live in her own home thanks to the special loving care of her daughter Gloria. She still tends to her flowers and pulls weeds from her beautiful lawns and flower gardens.

Her family would like to express their love, their gratitude, and their congratulations to this special lady and her arrival to this special day in her life.

She says, “living to be 100 years old is no big deal — it just happened.”