Michelle Robyn McAlister, loving daughter, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully after a lengthy battle with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and associated epilepsy at Wellspring Rehabilitation of Cascadia in Nampa, Idaho on August 1st, 2023.
Michelle was born to Karen Ann (Gentry) and Daniel A. McAlister in Pocatello, Idaho on November 3, 1964. Her formative years were spent in Boise and Idaho Falls where she graduated from Skyline High School in 1983. She enjoyed backpacking and camping trips into the Stanley Basin with her brother Damon and a series of exchange students. She also enjoyed traveling throughout Europe and Australia with her parents.
Michelle was a beloved sister, daughter, and cat lover. She liked country music and enjoyed singing in the Hillview Methodist Church choir. Michelle was known to correct others if they were not able to recall the words to country songs or carry the correct tune. She also was amazing with word search games and puzzles. Michelle’s loved ones were her focus, and she was happiest while celebrating family events at a restaurant with a shrimp dish and a virgin strawberry daquiri. Although her life held many struggles, she overcame many obstacles, and worked outside of home at different tasks. She was very proud to be able to buy things with her own money, such as cookbooks, keychains, and music tapes, while saving some of her hard-earned cash!
Michelle is survived by her father, Daniel McAlister; brother Damon (Sarah and nephews Justin and Nathan), aunts Vickie Garrett (Billyray) and Kathy Howells (Les), uncles Dee McAlister (Barbara), Darrol McAlister (Terry), and many beloved cousins. She considered her foreign exchange “siblings” family: David Milligan from Australia; Mathais Schoop from Germany; and Zeynep Kocabiyik Hansen from Turkey. Michelle was preceded in death by her mother, Karen Gentry McAlister, and they are undoubtedly having a loveable and joyful reunion.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be given to the Idaho Epilepsy Foundation of Idaho https://www.epilepsyidaho.org/giving/ .