Troy McCalister

Obituary for Mr. Troy McCalister

“Well done, good and faithful servant…” – Matthew 25:21

With humble hearts and thankful spirits, we pause to remember the life and legacy of Mr. Troy McCalister, age 83, a true Southern gentleman, master barbecuer, family patriarch, and beloved father.

Troy was born in the small East Texas town of Malakoff, Texas, to the proud parents of Curtis McCalister and Gertrude Jones. Raised with country values, hard work, and deep-rooted faith, Troy graduated from Saint Paul High School, Class of 1960.

Troy made his mark early in life as a dedicated supervisor at Texas Steel, where he worked until his retirement in 1979. But sitting still was never his style. He went on to run his own construction company as a licensed general contractor, building not only homes and businesses—but also trust, friendship, and legacy along the way.

A man of deep Christian faith, Troy was a proud member of Bibleway Baptist Church, faithfully worshiping under the leadership of his son, Pastor Michael McCalister. He loved the old hymn “Amazing Grace”, and he held close to his heart the timeless truth of John 3:16. He wasn’t just a churchgoer—he was a living testimony of God’s grace.

Troy wore many hats—husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend—but one of his proudest titles was President of the Fort Worth Hawks Motorcycle Club . He had a passion for the open road, hunting, fishing, and picking sweet tunes on his guitar with his band. And if there was a grill nearby, you better believe Troy was in charge—his barbecue was legendary. Nothing ever stayed broken around Troy—if it needed fixing, he had it handled.

More than anything, Troy was the patriarch of the McCalister family, faithfully leading the family reunion year after year. He made sure family stayed family, and that love stayed strong across generations.

On July 21, Troy took his place among the great cloud of witnesses—reunited with his parents Curtis and Gertrude, his beloved daughter Patricia Thompson, grandchildren Garrian McCalister, and his siblings Ollie Bowman, Mary Powell, Curtis McCalister, Jeff McCalister, Hazel Cain, and Travis McCalister.

Left in the caring hands of God his children: Pastor Michael McCalister (Trudy), Gary McCalister (Stacy), and Barbara Elder (Baron); his sister Diana Hubbard; grandchildren: Danielle Warren, Shalandrea Griffin, Xina McMerchant, GaShon McCalister-Taylor, LaTrice Thompson, Keyana Thompson, Alecia McCalister, Juanita Glasco, Ashley Thompson, Desiree Thompson, Adrian Shankle, Michael McCalister II, Gary McCalister Jr., Nicholas McCalister, Peyton Trimble, Xavier McCullar, Jason Holloway, and Kevin Thompson; Great-grandchildren: 33 strong and still counting; Special adopted niece: Shawnte Wingham and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who loved him dearly.

Troy McCalister lived a full, faithful, and fiery life rooted in family, fueled by faith, and flavored with soul. Though he has laid down his tools, hung up his helmet, and put down his guitar, his legacy lives on in every soul he touched. We’ll miss his laughter, his wisdom, and his world-famous barbecue. But we take comfort knowing he’s now resting easy in the arms of the Lord.

Rest well, Mr. McCalister. We’ll see you in the morning.