LIFE REFLECTIONS

I WOULD LIKE MY LIFE TO SPEAK FOR ITSELF AND BE AN EXAMPLE OF GIFTS,

TALENTS AND BLESSINGS THAT GOD GAVE ME TO BLESS OTHERS.

Alvin Marrison Abbott was born in Des Moines, Iowa on February 7, 1915.  He spent his childhood in Chillicothe, Missouri and graduated from high school.

As an adult he moved to St. Louis, Missouri where he met his first wife, Blanche Hall and they had two daughters, Louise Ann Abbott and Jane Lucille Abbott. After his divorce from Blanche Hall, he met and married Jessie Quillar and they had a daughter, Debrah Dorice Abbott. Alvin and Jessie were married for over fifty seven (57) years until her death in 2011. Although his daughters had different mothers, Alvin made sure his daughters were raised together as sisters and shared their lives together. This was very important to him as a father.

Alvin joined the U.S. Army on September 9, 1946, served in World War II and was honorably discharged on September 8,1949. At the time of his passing, he was one of the oldest Veterans in the nation and the oldest Veteran in the Greater St. Louis, Metropolitan area.

Alvin Abbott had been a resident of East St. Louis, Illinois for over fifty (50) years and served as the oldest member of St. Luke A.M.E. Church.

Alvin Abbott was a domestic servant doing his early years of employment but always had a vision and dream of becoming an entrepreneur. He learned to cook while serving in the U.S. Army. Alvin put his culinary skills to the test as the founder and CEO of Abbott's Catering Company for over thirty (30) years prior to his retirement in the 1980s. His brownies were legendary, you couldn't eat just one, along with his Polynesian Chicken dish that he created which was a favorite with his customers along with many other original dishes.  Alvin catered to many of the Fortune 500 companies in St. Louis at that time such as, Anheuser Busch, Maritz, Farmers Savings and Loans and others to name a few. He also managed Anheuser Busch Stadium Club houses for several years.

In Alvin's final year of life, he made the decision to move, sell his home and live with his daughter Jane, which was a blessing to both of them. Alvin knew no strangers and everyone he met loved and remembered him.  He was a spiritual, kind hearted, loving man, who liked to make you laugh. Oh, and don't forget, he loved the ladies. He was one of a kind.

Alvin's cherished memories are with: his three daughters, Debrah Dorice Quillar Abbott, University City, Missouri, Jane Lucille Abbott-Morris, St. Louis, Missouri, and Dr. Louise Ann Abbott-Joseph, Springfield, Illinois; grandson, Christopher Scott Abbott Morris, Olivette, Missouri; granddaughter, Ashley Morris, Olivette, Missouri; great-granddaughter, Chloe Jane Morris, Olivette, Missouri; great-grandson, Chad Everett Morris, Olivette, Missouri; sons-in-law, Dr. Jerard Joseph, Springfield, Illinois, and Elmer and Marsha Morris, Florissant, Missouri; and a host of other in laws and close family friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, father, wife and sister.