LATTA – Mrs. Elizabeth Lee Allen, 74, passed away February 9th, 2019, at McLeod Hospice House in Florence, SC after having fought a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer for over 3&1/2 years.
Betty (Ray), as she was known to most, was born in Mullins, SC on April 25th, 1944, to the late Raymond Kay and Susan Margaret Berry Lee. She grew up on the family farm in the Zion Community, graduated from Lake View High School, and continued her education at Columbia Commercial College, where she earned an associate degree in business. Upon graduation she worked in the office of Norwood Gasque, then Dilmar Oil Co. for a few years. Afterwards she was secretary to the principal of Latta High School for a number of years before retiring as secretary to the plant manager at Paper Board after 25 plus years.
In 1963, Betty married John Dudley Allen. She and Johnnie always took pride in keeping up a beautiful yard and home.
Betty was a saved and devout Christian who faithfully witnessed to all she met. She always loved her childhood church, Union Baptist Church, where she taught the adult Sunday School class for years. She was a lifetime member of the Magnolia Garden Club of Latta, where she had served as President. She enjoyed sewing, needlepointing, gardening, and spending time with her family and her dogs.
The beautiful and loving Betty is predeceased by her parents, her husband Johnnie, and a sister who died at birth.
She is survived by her daughters, Dena Coleman (Danny) and Deborah Plunk (Kenny), her grandchildren, Margaret Coleman Askins (Carson), Daniel Coleman (Meredith), Kaleb Plunk, and Laurel Plunk, and her great-grandchildren Eli and Coleman Askins, and Carter and Kipton Coleman. She is also survived by her loving sister, Sarah Lee Gleason (Arthur “Red” Alderman), a special niece and nephews, Michael and Teresa Allen Miller and Jim Allen, who have been invaluable in her care, as well as several other loving nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and her little dog “Buddy”. The family is comforted by her never-failing faith and the fact that she is in Heaven right now healed in the presence of her Savior and is smiling on her family and friends.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, February 12th, 2019 from 2:30-4:00 p.m. at Union Baptist Church in Temperance Hill, SC. A funeral service will follow the visitation at 4:00 p.m, Burial will follow at the Allen Family Cemetery. Kannaday Funeral Home in Latta, SC is assisting the family.
In lieu of flowers, please give to McLeod Hospice, 1203 East Cheves Street, Florence, SC 29506, the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123, Union Baptist Church of Temperance Hill, 6757 Watson Bay Court, Marion, SC 29571, or the Marion County Humane Society, P.O. Box 183, Marion, SC 29571.
You may sign the online guestbook at www.kannadayfuneralhome.com.
