Gwendolyn Elaine Allen

Admired for her no-nonsense approach, offbeat sense of humor, and fierce loyalties, most notably to her husband of 41 years, Dr. Gary Glen Allen, Gwendolyn Elaine Allen was a true force of nature, and Mrs. Gwen left a lasting impression on everyone she met. With that said, she was generous to a fault and all heart under her candy-coated shell; she was the anchor of her family and this quality never wavered during her nine-month illness with advanced pancreatic cancer. Gwen, 61, died September 16, 2017, in the arms of her best friend and soul mate, Gary, in the comfort of their beloved Bay Oaks home. Born on December 15, 1955, in Norfolk, Virginia, the daughter of the late Houston and Elaine Ballard was raised in Opp, Alabama, where she met Gary in the ninth grade and told him then that she was going to marry him. Gwen was the proud mother of her " babies," daughter, Courtney Rae Kasper (Don), and son, Brandon Chase Allen (Janie); grandmother, or "Gabby," to Parks Boyd Allen; daughter-in-law to James and Nell Allen; and sister to Vicki Farina (George). She loved all things flora, fauna, rock and roll, and Star Wars, celebrating the arts and literature, and going on adventures with her "Honeybun." Gwen's relationship with God was strong—"I jabber at him all the time," she said—and she was at peace going to a galaxy far, far away called Heaven where she could ride horses with her father and fish with her mother. She requested that her memory be honored with donations to S.O.S Animal Shelter, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, and Kindred Hospice in lieu of flowers. To those reading, Gwen would offer these parting words: live, laugh, love, appreciate time as a commodity, and always be thankful. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, September 19, 2017 at First Baptist Church in Enterprise with Bro. Gary Miller and Dr. Ben Bowden officiating. Burial will follow in Meadowlawn Cemetery with Searcy Funeral Home and Crematory directing. The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church from 9:30AM until service time on Tuesday. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gwendolyn Elaine Allen, please visit our flower store.