Mary Gail Allen, 96, of Mexico, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, at her home.
A private graveside service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021 at the Columbia Cemetery with Rev. Donaldo Sonntag conducting the service.
Due to health concerns connected to COVID-19 there will not be a visitation.
Mrs. Allen was born on Sept. 22, 1924 in Columbia, the daughter of Joel and Alta Lowrey. On March 9, 1945, in Columbia, she married Walter Allen.
After earning an associates degree from Stephens College, Mary worked at the telephone company as a bookkeeper until moving to Mexico, in 1956. Mary returned to work in the Mexico school system, followed by being a receptionist at Dr. Michael Briggs office. But Mary’s life was not defined by her work, it was defined by her volunteer service to others. She served in various roles in the First Christian Church over 60 years. In later years, Mary assisted with the Red Cross blood drives and delivered mail at the Missouri Veteran’s Home, where she loved visiting with the residents and employees.
Mary enjoyed her hobbies and tried just about everyone in the book, from knitting, to ceramics, to card making, to quilting, but her mainstay was baking (a.k.a. baking cookies). Before starting a project, she always had a person in mind that she would give the final product to, and this gave her so much joy. In later years when she was not as mobile, she got a lot of pleasure from talking to friends on the phone and watching Cardinals baseball. Probably Mary’s greatest joy was being around family and close friends. She will be missed by many.
Survivors include one daughter, Nancy Goedeke of Mexico; one son, Marcus (Amy) Allen of Springfield; three grandchildren, Maggie (Jeff) Cohn of St. Petersburg, Fla., Grant Allen of San Antonio, Texas, and Dain (Eleanor) Goedeke of St. Louis; two great-grandchildren, Dylan Cohn and Harper Grace Goedeke.
Mary Gail was preceded in death by her parents, Joel and Alta Lowrey and her husband, Walter Allen.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the Missouri Veterans Home or the Mexico YMCA. Memorials may be sent in care of Arnold Funeral Home, 425 S. Jefferson, Mexico, MO 65265.
Online condolences may be left at www.arnoldfh.com.
