Norma Jean Allen

Norma Jean Allen (Mother, MeMe, Jean), 95, of Skellytown, was welcomed into Heaven by Jesus and her loved ones on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 in Pampa.

Memorial services will be 2:00 PM Friday, September 1, 2023 at First Baptist Church of Skellytown with Rev. Carter Pirtle, pastor, and Bruce Brame officiating. Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.

Norma Jean Allen was born on March 26, 1928. Jean attended school in Leedey, Oklahoma and graduated in 1946.  She met the love of her life, Leroy Allen, while in high school and they married on September 30, 1945 before World War II.  After Leroy’s return from the war they moved to Pampa, Texas to begin their life together.  Shortly thereafter, they moved to the Skelly Shafer camp located just east of Skellytown, Texas, where they raised 3 daughters, Charlotte Gaye Allen (Barton), Deborah Kay Allen (Guinn) and Lynn Renee’ Allen (McCullough).

In 1951, at a local revival, Jean, along with her husband Leroy, and best friends Curly and Neoma Mercer and Rod and Tommy Lewis, gave her life to Jesus and began a lifelong service to the Lord. Her undying love for Jesus existed until her final day on Earth. 

Jean served in many capacities within her local church as well as the surrounding communities.  She was a faithful Sunday School teacher, sang in the church choir, taught VBS, served as a WMU leader, hosted weekly Mugs and Muffins Bible study and prayer time for the community of Skellytown, attended GIFT Women’s Ministry as well as many other Bible studies in Skellytown and the surrounding communities, including Pampa FBC, dedicated her time and volunteered as a Panfork Camp Sponsor and proudly served alongside her husband as a Deacon’s Wife. She was a true real-life example of a Proverbs 31 woman, loved by all who had the privilege of knowing her over the course of her life. Jean also worked for Skellytown elementary school, Cabot Corporation, and Mojave Petroleum.

Jean, along with her husband Leroy, also had a true passion for Missions and she supported them faithfully throughout her life, financially and most importantly spiritually. Her passion in life was Christ first, family second and community and friends third. It would be impossible to count the number of people impacted throughout her life.

To know Jean was to love her.  In addition to her dedication to serving the Lord, Jean truly loved spending time with her family.  She could be found at the lake in the summers skiing, riding in a boat, picnicking and camping and she kept a very “Clean” tent!  She hosted her ever growing family during the holidays and could always be found in the kitchen cooking each person’s favorite dish.  While her home was always bursting at the seams, it was filled with love and laughter.  She was an incredible cook and there truly was not a dish she had not mastered to perfection.  If a recipe called for Cool Whip she was making it! Jean enjoyed playing games around her dining room table with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, her favorite games being Plunk, on a board made by her father, and a card game we called Nuts.  While she was a gentle and loving woman, she was a mean competitor any time we gathered around that table.  

She loved attending all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s sporting and school events and traveled the Panhandle and State of Texas to cheer in the stands and proudly support them.  She was so very proud of each one of them.  Jean was also an  avid supporter of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Hawks, attending many games and missing few televised broadcasts.

Jean is preceded in death by her husband, Leroy Allen; grandson, Brant Shea McCullough; son-in-law, David Guinn; great grandsons, Javen and Kannen Barton; grandson, Jacob Ashton Guinn; her parents, Florence and Cleveland Brandon; mother and father-in law, Viola and George Allen; brother, Floyd Brandon; sisters, Leora Eddings and Launa Carlton; and niece, Carlene Green, who was raised like a sister to Jean.

Jean is survived by her daughters; Gaye Barton and husband Jimmy (who she welcomed into heaven on August 25, 2023) of Dalhart, Texas, Debbie Guinn of Austin, Texas, and Renee’ McCullough and husband Frank of Pampa, Texas; grandchildren, Jennifer King of Dalhart, Texas, Lindsay Barton of Skellytown, Texas, Tiffany Shock of Forney, Texas, Chelsea Smith and husband Zane of Prosper, Texas, and Alicia Guinn of Lubbock, Texas; great grandchildren, Brant King and wife Creighton of Amarillo, Texas, Sydney King of Norman, Oklahoma, Mikah Barton of Austin, Texas, Gracie King of Lewisville, Texas, Bryson Thibodeaux of Skellytown, Texas, Anistyn and Beckham Shock of Forney, Texas, and Nox and Axl Smith of Prosper, Texas and her one great-great granddaughter, Brixtynn King of Amarillo, Texas. 

In lieu of flowers the family requests that you consider donations to First Baptist Church Skellytown, PO Box 176, Skellytown, Texas 79080 or Hills of his Grace Orphanage-Haiti, 905 S Filmore, Suite 700, Amarillo, Texas 79101.