Marilee (Lidikay) McCallister, formerly of Fulton, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Foxwood Springs Senior Living in Raymore, Missouri.
She was born July 30, 1935, in Crawfordsville, the daughter of Henry Adrin Lidikay and Elda Lucille (Caldwell) Lidikay. Mrs. McCallister’s husband, Dr. Raymond Forrest McCallister Jr., preceded her in death in September 2005.
She is survived by her daughter, Lynn Ann McCallister of Overland Park, Kansas, who teaches equestrian students and trains American Saddlebred horses. She is also survived by her son, Brian Forrest McCallister, who is a trial attorney; her only daughter-in-Law, Cynthia Short, also a trial attorney; and their three children, Kyle, Mitchell and Jillian, all of Kansas City, Missouri.
Marilee graduated from Darlington High School in 1953. She graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music education in 1957. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority and Mu Phi Epsilon Music Sorority. She fell in love with Raymond while at DePauw University, later marrying him on Aug. 10, 1957, in Crawfordsville.
She taught music in the Wallingford Junior High and High School in Wallingford, Connecticut, while Raymond completed his master of divinity degree at Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut. Marilee taught private voice and piano lessons in her home for many years while she was busy raising her children.
She served as choir director of the First Christian Church in Metropolis, Illinois, while Raymond served as pastor of that church for two and one-half years. After moving to Fulton, Missouri in 1961, she served for 18 years as the choir director of three church choirs at the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), while also substitute teaching in the Fulton Public Schools before taking the full-time job teaching elementary music in the Fulton Public Schools.
Not completely fulfilled with her bachelor’s degree, she went back to school at Mizzou to earn her master of education degree in 1986, graduating with honors at the age of 50. She retired from her teaching position in the Fulton Public Schools in 1994.
Marilee and Raymond retired in Fulton, Missouri, remaining active in various civic organizations. Marilee was active in P.E.O., sang regularly in the First Christian Church and played in its handbell choir for many years. She served as an elder in her “home” church in Fulton and served on its outreach committee. She proudly served on the General Board of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) from 1975 to 1978. She was an active member of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association and the local Retired Teachers Organization. She was a proud member of the University of Missouri Alumni Association.
Memorial gifts in Marilee’s memory can be made to the First Christian Church, 6 E. Seventh St., Fulton, Missouri, or the American Heart Association.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 22 at First Christian Church in Fulton, Missouri. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 21 at Maupin Funeral Home in Fulton, Missouri. Interment will take place at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 23 at Marrowbone Township Cemetery in Bethany, Illinois.
