Elmer Joseph(Joe) Allison 85 of Owasso, OK. passed away on Thursday, October 8, 2015 in Tulsa after a brief illness. Joseph was born to Betty Allison(now Tyree) and Elmer “Al” Allison in Oklahoma city, OK.
Joseph grew up during the depression and when his mother, stepfather Roy Tyree, and his maternal grandparents could not take possession of a farm, they were forced to live in a tent, and then a leaking garage which ruined his mother’s piano. For this, and to give his bank uncle a fresh start, the family moved to southern California. There, when he was fifteen, he went to the first Youth for Christ meeting(then called “Saturday Night Jubilee”) held at Church of the Open Door in Los Angeles, where he gave his heart to Christ. He worked part-time for Dawson Trotman, the founder of the Navigators. He was disciple by Navigators Howard Davis and Earl Adams. Thus he began his life-long study and memorization of Holy Scripture. Shortly thereafter, his family moved to Muskogee, OK where his stepfather had family.
He graduated from Central High in Muskogee, and began college at Oklahoma Baptist University, then attended Wheaton College in Illinois, which proved too expensive, so he returned to OBU, but not before marring his first wife, Edna Villnes who gave him his only child, Kathy Jo. He graduated from OBU, pastored small churches in Oklahoma, became a chemist for Alcoa and worked for Martin in Denver. He returned to southern California where he became a technical Writer with North American(later absorbed by Rockwell, then by Boeing). He was one of the lead writers on the twenty volume Apollo project proposal, which did win and sent men to the moon. Spiritually, he had gotten off track.
He returned to the Lord, married Karen-Elizabeth, and shortly thereafter was accepted by Wycliffe Bible Translators. He earned a Master’s Degree in linguists at University of Texas, and was assigned to the southern-most people group in the Philippines. He translated the gospel of John and several other scripture portions, while Karen worked on the dictionary and anthropology. He returned to the states for furlough, when Karen’s mother, a crippled widow with no other children, could no longer live alone. So, he taught missionaries in training for WBT while in Dallas, where they cared for Karen’s mother. Joe and Karen did return to the Philippines to distribute scripture and other materials to the Muslim people with whom they labored. They also brought their chief language helper to Dallas, so Karen could continue working on the Dictionary.
Along the way, Joseph grew in faith. He also grew in hobbies. Long gone were the days of making model airplanes, skiing, skating, and tennis. He played classical guitar, and raised orchids and fruit trees at their home at WBT’s base in Mindanao. He excelled in Chinese brush painting, and was part of oriental art shows in Dallas. While Karen had her creative arts studio, he began an arts newspaper which was inserted as a section in newspapers in the Dallas area. Later he taught ESL for a non -profit organization, and taught English and computer science at various community colleges in the Dallas area.
Joseph and Karen moved back to his home state, Oklahoma where he taught computer programing, frolicked with their dogs and visited his mother, Betty, who was now in a nursing home. Joseph had a long and adventurous life, rich in the love of friends and family. Every day he was thankful to God for his great Mercy and faithfulness. Joe marveled at the glory of God seen throughout God’s beautiful world. A life filled with forgiveness, and the knowledge and companionship of God is a blessing indeed.
Joe is survived by:
Wife – Karen of the home
1 Daughter – Kathy & husband Bill Lewis of Placentia, CA
3 Grandchildren – Cortney & husband Scott of Laguna Nigal, CA
Lindsay Lewis of Orange County, CA
Mark Lewis of Palo Alto, CA
2 Great-Granddaughters
1 Brother – Gene & wife Sue Tyree of Tulsa, OK.
1 Sister – Ginger & husband C.L. Chappell of Charlotte, NC.
1 Uncle – Harold Tyree of Oklahoma City, OK.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents.
Graveside services are scheduled for 1:00PM Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at Saint Therese Cemetery in Collinsville officiated by Father Chris Waters. Funeral Services have been entrusted to Dighton-Moore Funeral Service of Owasso. www.dightonmoorefuneralservice.com
In lieu of flowers, family has requested donations to Tulsa S.P.C.A. 2910 Mohawk Blvd. Tulsa, OK. 74110, or the Anglican Church of St. Paul in Owasso, P.O. Box 1858 Owasso, OK. 74055.
