Rest In Peace, Dear Sister Pat Callister

Frances (“Pat”) Callister passed into eternity on Sunday, 13 January 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah, after a brief illness. She was born in Logan on 18 June 1923, the second of five daughters of Seth Langton and Orita Smith Barber. She spent her young years and was educated in Lewiston, Utah. She had a very happy family life with a mother who taught her homemaking skills, and a father who taught principles of thrift, honesty, integrity and performing one’s civic and patriotic duties. 

The Barber girls were expected to save for their college education and each graduated from Utah State University - Pat with a degree in journalism. Pat belonged to Kappa Delta sorority, and served as student body secretary her senior year. During WWII she worked as a secretary at Bushnell Military Hospital in Brigham City, and after the war worked in the Dean’s office at University of Utah Medical School where she met medical student John William (Jack) Callister, and they married on 29 May 1947 (later sealed in the Oakland LDS Temple). Upon completion of Jack’s medical training the family relocated to Reno, Nevada, where they raised their four children. Pat was involved in Relief Society, PTA, Nevada Opera Guild, and many other civic and church activities. She was a champion bridge player and enjoyed the game immensely throughout her life. The family cabin at Alpine Meadows, California, was the family retreat for holidays, honeymoons and vacations, and was the place where so many wonderful memories were made. With all the children married and Jack retired from his medical practice, the cabin became the couple’s summer residence and sunny St. George their winter home for the next 33 years. 

Pat is survived by her husband, Jack; sisters, Ann Louise (Fletcher), and Carolyn (Mathis); daughter Ann Croft (Ken), sons John (Suzanna), Michael (Ronda) and Robert (Michelle); 14 grandchildren, and 37 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Janet (Ferguson) and Elizabeth (Bateman). 

Francis and John were best known to the B7 Ward as Pat and Jack. They were “the best” and have been missed since they left St. George to return to Salt Lake to be closer to family. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jack and his family.