Joseph W. Glaister

The celebration of Dr. Joseph William Glaister's life will be Friday afternoon, Aug. 3, 2007, at 1 pm at First Christian Church, with Dr. Carl Gebhardt officiating. Burial will follow at Greenview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Thursday from 6-9pm at Elkins Funeral Home, Florence.

Dr. 'G' passed away peacefully with his children and loving wife at his bedside Monday July 30, 2007, at the age of 87. He was the only child of his late parents, Arthur and Elizabeth Tait Glaister. He was born Aug. 31, 1919, in Sheffield and lived most of his life in Lauderdale County. His early childhood was spent in the TVA Tent City. He was a 1937 graduate of Coffee High School. A graduate of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, where he studied pre-med. He was a graduate of LSU with a medical degree and attended Yale for his psychiatric residency. He compassionately served his local community as a psychiatrist for more than 40 years and was the medical director of Riverbend Mental Health Center for many years. The Riverbend Mental Health Board honored Dr. Glaister by naming the activity center after him. He was affectionately known as 'Dr. G' or 'Dr. Joe'.

Dr. Glaister served his country in the U.S. Army, where he was a captain and a veteran of the Korean War. He was baptized at Highland Baptist Church.

He met his lovely bride, Muriel Dyar, in the fall of 1951 at the Florence Clinic, where she worked for his parents. His mother was director of the nursing school at the Florence Clinic. He was very proud of their contribution in starting the laboratory at the clinic.

Dr. Glaister was preceded in death by his son, Ira Edward Glaister, in 1969.

Survivors include his loving wife of 54 years, Murial Dyar Glaister; children, Jerome Dyar Glaister, of Florence, Debra Jo Glaister, of San Bruno, Calif., Sherri Glaister Hendrix and husband, Russell, of St. Stephens, Ala., and Melissa Jane Glaister, of Boston, Mass.; grandchildren, Amanda Glaister, David Hendrix, Joseph Hendrix, Andy Glaister, Ashley Glaister, Leah Glaister, Timothy Hendrix, Allen Glaister Tolleth , Joshua Hendrix, Robert Jerome Tolleth, and Caleb Hendrix; great-grandchild, Dylan Joseph Murray; and is survived also by cherished co-workers and friends from Riverbend Mental Health center.

Pallbearers will be friends and family.

Expressions of sympathy may also be made in loving memory of Dr. Joseph William Glaister to the Foundation for Mental Health of the Shoals, Suntrust Bank, 201 South Court Street, Florence, AL 35630.

The Glaister family wishes to express their heartfelt appreciation to the wonderful doctors and nurses of third, sixth and ER at ECM Hospital for the excellent care given our husband, Dad, grandfather and great-grandfather. Thanks also to Mitchell-Hollingsworth Nursing Home, station 3 and Morningside Assisted Living for their loving kindness shown also.

Please join us in celebrating our beloved husband, Dad, grandfather and great-grandfather's life by visiting our Memorial at www.mem.com. Through the personal Guest Book on this site, we invite you to share your thoughts and fond memories with our family.

Elkins Funeral Home, Florence, is assisting the family.