Obituary of Mildred I. Allen

In 2 Corinthians 5, God’s Word assures believers that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Mildred Allen went to be with Jesus on January 5, 2015 surrounded by loved ones who now celebrate her life and faith. Mildred was born to Noel William Taylor and Dollie Vessie Jones Taylor on February 11, 1926, in Haynesville, Louisiana, the oldest of five siblings. The family came to the Arp area of Texas during the oil boom. Mildred graduated from Arp High School in 1945, and on June 29, 1946 she married the love of her life, her husband of almost 66 years, James Reuben Allen. Mildred realized her greatest childhood wish -- to be a wife, a mother, and a homemaker. She and her husband had many grand adventures during his U.S. Air Force career, the most important of which was the rearing of their seven children: Sarah Ann, John Michael, James Rickey, Billy Steven, Kenneth Lynn, Sandra Jan, and Gregory Keith. After retirement from the military in 1964, the Allens built a home out in the country near Arp. In this happy home the family grew, and Mildred’s love impacted innumerable lives. From her seven children came 15 grandchildren: John, Kim, Celeste, Chris, Mark, Stephanie, Eric, Jeremy, Krissi, Jenny, Heather, Allen, Crystal, Andrea, and Rowland, and then 22 great-grandchildren: Stephen, Luke, Kyle, Maegan, Emily, Caleb, Noah, Hannah, A.J., Fisher, Case, Allee, Jaycee, Drake, Greggory, Grayson, Nikki, Sydney, Jameson, Burkelyn, Lincoln, and Larkyn. All the family loved gathering at Granny and Granddaddy Allen’s house. Anyone who entered the home was welcomed with love, food, and Granny’s iced tea. In addition to family life, Mildred enjoyed a career at Levi Strauss Company in Tyler, where she worked as a supervisor for many years. She counted the friends she made there among her dearest. Mildred was a long-time member of Arp Emmanuel Baptist Church, and she dearly loved her pastors and all her church family. She enjoyed the message, music, fellowship, and the many hugs from those who looked for her every Sunday. Mildred was predeceased by her parents, Noel and Vessie Taylor, her beloved husband, James Reuben Allen, her only brother, Jon Hardin Taylor, her youngest sister, Clara Elizabeth “Becky” Hardy, a son-in-law, Larry D. Hanson, a grandson, James Rowland Allen, and two great-grandchildren, Lincoln Allen and Larkyn Allen. Mildred is survived by two sisters, Mary Evelyn Parish and Edith Germaine Jackson, both of Arp, and her children, Greg Allen, Ken Allen, Rick Allen, Steve Allen, Sarah Allen Hanson, John Michael Allen and his wife Carolyn Elaine Allen, all of Arp, and Jan Allen Pate and her husband Michael Pate, of Tyler. Other survivors who brought Mildred great joy include her grandchildren and their spouses, her great-grandchildren, and her numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Funeral services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 8, 2015, at Arp Emmanuel Baptist Church in Arp with Reverend Doctor Ron Klingslick and Reverend Tommy Hardin officiating under the direction of Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home, Overton. Visitation will be Wednesday evening, January 7, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.