Dixie Lee McAllister, 89, of Mt. Pleasant, died Saturday, June 27, 2026 at her home surrounded by her family and friends. She was born June 7, 1937 at home in Keithsburg, Illinois to Raymond and Helen Gaddis. In January of 1956 she married Herb Stinemates in Monmouth, Illinois and they divorced in 1978. She married Rande A. McAllister on October 31, 1980 in Waterloo, Iowa and they divorced.
Dixie was a 1955 graduate of Monmouth High School, attended Carl Sandburg Junior College and earned a degree in court reporting at AIB in Des Moines. She attended night school to earn this degree while working days at Heslinga Law Office in Oskaloosa. She worked as a court reporter from 1978 until 2020 and was a member of the NCRA (National Court Reporter’s Association). She was a member of the Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church; chapter Original A PEO; PLIC; and the Mt. Pleasant Rec Center. She enjoyed exercising; gardening, canning and cooking; reading; walking on the beach in winter; and time with family and friends.
She is survived by her sons Herbert “Gene” Stinemates of Keokuk and James (Vicki) Stinemates of West Burlington; grandson Kason Stinemates; granddaughters Holly and Sarah Stinemates, and Whitney (Chris) Beals; one great-granddaughter Veda Beals; brother James (Ruby) Gaddis; two nieces; one nephew; and two cousins. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by one brother in infancy and three cousins.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at Center Grove Cemetery in Kirkwood, Illinois. A Celebration of Life will begin Wednesday afternoon from 1:00 – 4:00 at the Ashford Park Club House, 1407 E. Ashford Avenue, Mt. Pleasant. A memorial has been established for All God’s Creatures in Mt. Pleasant. Elliott Chapel, New London, is assisting the family and online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.