Ernest Clyde McAlister Jr was born to Evelyn and Ernest McAlister Sr. in Gadsden, AL on July 31, 1947. Ernie’s family moved to Huntsville, AL in 1957. He graduated from Lee High School in 1965 and from the University of Alabama in 1975 and lived in the Huntsville area until his death on April 16, 2024. Ernie enlisted and served in the Army during the Vietnam War between his High school and College graduations.
Ernie and his dad owned Amalgamated Goobers which distributed and sold peanuts and pecans to grocers in Alabama and Mississippi as well as to individuals for over 10 years in the 70s and 80s. Ernie left the business in 1987 to become an inspector at GW Jones where he oversaw the Huntsville Airport runway extension as well as the Huntsville sewer outfall line at the Tennessee River. He then went to work for ESA Engineering out of Birmingham as an inspector for their water projects for the Madison Water and Waste Water Board. From there, he joined the Madison Water Department as the only Inspector of the Inspection Department. During his tenure at the water department, Ernie put in many long hours into growing the city of Madison into the metropolis it is today. There were many years where he inspected and approved over 50 housing subdivisions per year, or an average of one per week. During the tornado of 2011, Ernie’s extensive knowledge of the Madison Water system allowed Ernie, in pitch dark, to direct the placement of emergency generators to the pumping stations to avoid the loss of water to the Madison city residents. Ernie retired from the Madison Water Department on his 66th birthday in 2013.
Ernie loved the Crimson Tide and was a Tide Pride Member and as well as SEC championship tickets holder from their inceptions. Ernie also loved NASCAR and had been to nearly all of the Talladega races since their inception in 1969, only missing while in the Army and as of late during his health decline. Ernie loved travelling to the events in the motorhome and visiting with old and new found friends.
Above all, Ernie loved his family and friends. He was a devoted son and cared for his widowed mother until her death. Ernie is preceded in death by his parents, Ernest Clyde McAlister Sr, and Evelyn Rivers McAlister.
Ernie is survived by his lifelong partner of 40 years, Linda Grissim, his sister Nan Black (Jerry), Aunt JoAnn Rivers, and his caregiver Amber Lauria. His brother in laws, Bill Grissim (Theresa) and Bob Grissim (Sharon) and sister-in-law Paula Malone (Tim). His nieces, Sara Black, Haley Black, Sarah Jones (Josh), Amanda Collier (Joe) and nephews Andrew Black, Chris Grissim, Zac Grissim (Kaili), Justin Grissim (Alana), Jacob Grissim (Courtney) and Riley Malone. He is also survived by several great nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to the Arc of Madison County, Christmas Charities Year-Round, or a children’s charity of your choice.
You may visit with the family Saturday April 20, 2024 from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm at Valhalla Funeral Home, 698 Winchester Road NE, Huntsville, AL 35811. A Celebration of Life Service will begin at 2:00 pm in Valhalla's Celebration Chapel. Interment will immediately follow at Valhalla Memory Gardens in the Chapel Garden with Military Honors.
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