The world's swine industry lost one of its leading nutritionists this week with the passing of Gary Layton Allee.

Allee, 76, of Columbia, Mo., passed away on Sept. 7 from pancreatic cancer.

According to Allee's obituary on the website of Parker-Millard Funeral Service & Crematory, for nearly two decades Allee built his career at Kansas State University, where he and his wife, Norma, raised their two children and made lifelong friendships. In 1987, he came home to mid-Missouri to lead the Animal Sciences Department at the University of Missouri. Eventually he returned to his true professional love — collaborative research — and formed productive and rewarding new partnerships that further propelled his career.

Allee was recognized nationally and internationally for his pioneering contributions to swine nutrition and swine production. He gave over 200 invited presentations in 26 states and 28 countries.

He authored more than 100 refereed journal articles and more than 350 abstracts and technical papers. He proudly served as the vice president, president and director of the Midwest American Society of Animal Sciences, which hosts an annual symposium in his honor, and on the Board of Directors of Omega Protein Corp. for nearly two decades. His greatest professional legacy was his mentorship of 27 doctorate and 28 master's students, who he counted among his closest friends.

Allee was the third of 11 children on his family's farm near Latham, Mo.. He earned a bachelor of science degree in 1966 and a master's degree in 1967, both in Animal Sciences and both from the University of Missouri, followed by a Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of Illinois in 1970.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Norma, of Columbia, Mo.; his daughter, Teresa (Paul) Bridwell of Los Angeles; his son Todd (Kris Miler) Allee of Washington, D.C.; and his grandchildren Mara Bridwell, Max Bridwell, Alexandra Bridwell, Camille Allee and Serena Allee. Also surviving are two brothers, Jack Allee and Bill (Sharon) Allee, both of Latham, Mo.; and eight sisters: Mary (Wayne) Coleman of Jefferson City, Mo.; Faye (Mike) Moser of Sedalia, Mo.; Connie (Chuck) Rosecrans of Huntsville, Ala.; Peggy (Pat) Sullivan of St. Charles, Iowa; Brenda (Bill) Bates of Green Valley, Ariz.; Sherry (Terry) Boldt of Milton, Fla.; Rita (Mike) Dallmeyer of Jefferson City, Mo.; and Lisa (Curt) Krueger of Phoenix, Ariz. He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd Layton Allee and Delta June Allee.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the family will hold a private mass and burial. A full celebration of his life will be held at a future date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Gary L. Allee Memorial Scholarship Fund, which provides need-based financial aid to college students from rural communities (send checks to Mizzou Gift Processing, 407 Reynolds Alumni Center, Columbia, MO 65211, or give online), or to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (donation form, or give online).

Arrangements are under the direction of Parker-Millard Funeral Service and Crematory in Columbia, Mo. Condolences may be left online for the family at Parker-Millard's website.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Gary Layton Allee, visit Parker-Millard's Sympathy Store.

Allee's full obituary can be found online.