Joe Ed Mcalister, Jr.

Joseph Edward “J.E.” McAlister, Jr., 87, of Jonesboro, Arkansas died Tuesday, October 2, 2018.

J.E. was known as “Joe Ed” and “JoMac” but most well known as “Papa Joe.” Papa Joe was born on July 24, 1931, to the late Marjory Edna McAlister and Joseph Edward McAlister, Sr. in Cash, Arkansas. In 1932, his family moved to Jonesboro, where he graduated from Jonesboro High School.  His grandparents were Dr. and Mrs. Adam Gutheri McAlister and Mr. and Mrs. Marion Lankford. His older brother, L.E. McAlister, preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Ann McAlister of Jonesboro; one daughter, Cindy Woodard and her husband, Randy Woodard of Jonesboro; two grandchildren, Jared Woodard and his wife Lindsey of Jonesboro, Chris Woodard and his wife Jenna of Cave Springs; four great-grandchildren, Brown and Bentley Woodard of Jonesboro and Jones and Everett Woodard of Cave Springs.

Papa Joe proudly attended Arkansas State University before beginning his illustrious career in agriculture. In 1952, Papa Joe worked at the Cash Mercantile Co., which spun into a 320-acre farming operation. In 1961, Joe and L.E. purchased the rice mill at Cash and converted it into a seed processing plant. At the same time, they leased 6,000 additional acres of farmland and acquired another seed plant, McAlister Seed Service. In 1968, a third seed plant was built in Knoble.

In 1965, Papa Joe and L.E. added a fertilizer and chemical business and started an agri-flying service at Cash, Knoble, and Walnut Ridge, along with the addition of an Oliver tractor dealership. In 1968, they became 50% owner in Mor-Mac Corp and then purchased 5,000 acres of farmland in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

In 1971, Papa Joe became the sole owner of the Cash seed plant; and in 1972, he created Cache River Valley Development Corp, which also included farmland. In 1975, his son-in-law Randy was introduced to the business and they gradually expanded the retail and wholesale trade, as well as the physical plant. The business continued to grow over the years and serviced the Mid-South, South, and Southwest United States. Finally, in 1997, Cache River Valley Development Corp. entered into a partnership merger with MFA, Inc. of Columbia, Missouri, which resulted in a third company and perhaps the most well known, Cache River Valley Seed, LLC. Papa Joe was proud of its own lines of MorSoy soybeans, Dixie soybeans, Dixie wheat, and CRV rice, which service all southern states and the Mid-west.

Papa Joe served countless organizations in all capacities, including Craighead County Farm Bureau, Arkansas Seed Dealers, Soil & Water Conservation District, Rice and Soybean advisory boards, and many others. Papa Joe has been presented numerous awards recognizing his outstanding business career, but his three most cherished are: Chamber of Commerce Agri/Business Man of the Year, an award from Rice Council for Market Development for his work in the filming of the movie, “The Story of American Rice”, and the coveted Arkansas Seed Dealers Pioneer award.

Socially, Joe was previously a member of RidgePointe Country Club, Sage Meadows Golf Club and for over 40 years, a member of Jonesboro Country Club. He was also a member of the Elk’s Club and Lion’s Club along with serving on the Board of Directors of the Senior Golf Association of Arkansas, ASU Indian Club and Alumni advisor for Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity at ASU. In 2015, the newly renovated Centennial Bank Stadium club level on the Arkansas State University campus was given his namesake, the “Woodard McAlister Club.” Papa Joe was a longtime season ticket holder for both football and basketball and often would be seen out of his seat and standing up while yelling for his Red Wolves.

Papa Joe’s biggest passions in life were his family, playing golf, crappie fishing, tending to his immaculate spread of landscaping, and his 4pm Bourre (booray) game with cold Budweiser at Jonesboro Country Club.

Active pallbearers are Marty Eaton, Jim Fulkerson, Jim Smith, Lee Brun, Danny McDaniel, Louis Schaaf, Chris Woodard and Jared Woodard.

Honorary pallbearers are Fred Yawn, Jerry Donahue, Bob Gibson, Dan Raines, Chris Riggs, Wixson Huffstetler, Nelson Catalina, Jim Goad, Julienne Penter, Dr. Mike Tedder, Dr. Daryl Ragland, Dr. Bill Hubbard, Dr. Ron Burnett, Dick Crumbaugh, Tom Fleming, Duane Beisner, David Nelms, Stacy Hall, Ray Osment, Robert Box, JCC card room, JCC MGA, noon group and Cache River Valley Seed employees. A special thanks goes out to Brandy Miller and Lisa Holderfield with Visiting Angels for their compassionate love and care over the past 15 months.

On Monday, October 8, a Celebration of Papa Joe’s Life will be held from 5-7pm at the Woodard McAlister Club in Centennial Bank Stadium at Arkansas State University. On Tuesday, October 9 at 11am, service will be held at Emerson Funeral Home in Jonesboro. A private burial will follow the service at Jonesboro Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests consideration of a lasting memorial to the National CMV Foundation in honor of his great granddaughter, Bentley, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Northeast Arkansas Humane Society, or a charitable organization of your choice.