Betty Colleen Allen

Betty Colleen Allen passed away on January 16, 2023 surrounded by the love of her family. She was 82 years old. Betty was born to Opal and Henry Dunlap on June 8, 1940 in Scott City, Kansas; she was the youngest of 6 siblings. Betty spent time traveling and living with her sister’s family in New Mexico, and in Odessa, Texas before returning home to Kansas.

She met and later married her husband, Kenneth Carl Allen on April 20, 1963 in Garden City, Kansas. They shared 55 years together and had two daughters before his passing in 2018.

While Betty always kept herself active with projects, her primary job was the homemaker. She was a devoted and loving wife and mother and, later, a grandmother to her family. Family was her focus and light in her life. She loved sharing stories of her siblings and her childhood. Her own mother, Opal, was the most important person to her and losing her mother at an early age impacted her greatly.

Betty was an extraordinarily talented artist focusing on the mediums of drawing, painting, and clay. She also carved soap animals from Ivory soap bars. Betty was a great cook and baker. Having grown up in a family restaurant that started with inviting patrons into the family home, this came naturally to her, although she was humble about her talents. She was a night owl her entire life. She loved old movies and musicals and enjoyed listening to music.

Betty is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Kenneth Carl Allen; her parents, Opal and Henry Dunlap; her five siblings, Henry Dunlap Jr., Charles Dunlap, Mary Jean Davis, Bill Dunlap, and Bob Dunlap; nephew, Charles Dunlap; and niece Terri Henderson.

She leaves behind, to cherish her memory, her daughters, Mary Allen-Buxman and wife, Kim, and Beth Allen; her grandchildren, Cassandra Green and husband, Jose, Jacob McElreath, Kendrick Horeftis and wife, Kayla, Kirk Horeftis and wife, Jocelynn; eight great-grandchildren, Bradyn Holloway, Makenna Holloway, Grayson Holloway, Se’ Green, Briella Green, Mya Frazier, Carter Fellows, and Oliver McElreath; her nieces and nephews, Johnny Dunlap and wife, Anita, Davy Dunlap and wife, Sherry, Pam Quinones and husband, Jaime, John Dunlap, Christy Williams and husband, Michael, Toni Sullivan and husband, Roy, Bob Dunlap and wife, Richelle, and Brad Dunlap and wife, Leisa; and numerous extended family members and friends.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00PM Saturday January 28, 2023 at the Blessing Funeral Home Chapel in Mansfield, Texas.