Frances "Geri" Allen's Obituary
Frances Geraldine Allen, known to her family and friends as “Geri”, passed away in her home surrounded by her immediate family on November 3, 2018, at the age of 90. She was preceded in death by her husband Otis Ralph Allen Jr., her parents Thelma and George Garrison, her brothers George Garrison and Jeff Garrison, and her son Rex Allen.She is survived by her brother Don Garrison, her sister Kate Hardy and husband Vernon, and her sister Marie Garrison. She is also survived by her son Gary and his wife Rachel, granddaughter Susan Raff and husband David, granddaughter Julie Matthews and husband Ben, son-in-law Vince Healy, four great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.She was born on a farm in Hill County, Texas on February 16, 1928. She was the third of six children. As a senior in high school, Geri moved to town and sold hats at Kress Department Store in Hillsboro to cover the rent of her one-room dwelling. Upon graduation from high school, she married Ralph Allen, and they moved to San Antonio where Ralph eventually got a job with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. Ralph’s job took them to the Rio Grande Valley, New Jersey, and back to the Valley before being transferred to Dallas permanently. Ralph and Geri had two sons, Gary and Rex. Geri worked for a time as a kindergarten teacher and later as a high school attendance clerk. But chiefly she worked as a homemaker while her children were still living at home. She was an active member of First Baptist Church of Oak Cliff, teaching Sunday school classes and being involved in various activities there. Geri enjoyed and was known for her baking of cookies, pies, and cakes for her family, friends, and church. A college education for her sons was always a priority for her. Both of her sons accomplished that goal and more.Her husband passed away from cancer at the age of 53. This was a huge loss to Geri and her family. She persevered in her work and eventually was able to pay off her home in Oak Cliff, for which she took great pride.She took pleasure in nature she found around her, including the birds in her backyard and the occasional critters that visited her there. Early mornings on her patio with a cup of coffee before her workday began were special times for her. She also enjoyed the crackling fire in the fireplace in the den of her home in winter and enjoyed watching football games on television, especially when her teams were winning. She loved to read her Bible and found strength through her faith. She always had a positive attitude and taught her boys by example to find the good in people. She always greeted people with a smile and a cheery hello. She especially valued her faith, her family, and her country. She remained a devout Christian throughout her life.Her youngest son Rex died suddenly of a heart attack less than one week after she had been diagnosed with cancer. He was one week away from a retirement where he had worked for Providence Hospice of Seattle. She was tested as never before, but her faith and her family’s support helped her endure the suffering that this caused.The cancer that took her life had been active for over a year before she finally succumbed to it. It was already incurable when it was diagnosed, but her life was extended through the efforts of her physicians and the help of her family. Her body was slowly depleted of its resources by cancer until she had little left to fight with. She usually seemed more concerned about the difficulties created for her family by her drawn out illness than how the cancer affected her personally.Her son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters were at her bedside as she slipped from consciousness into a coma, and then until she breathed her last breath a few hours later. As we grieved, we also understood that she would no longer have to suffer from cancer that had hurt her so badly.We know that the remembrance of her loving example will remain with us as long as we shall live.Visitation for Frances “Geri” Allen will be held Saturday, November 10, 2018, from 1:00-2:15 PM at Restland Funeral Home, located at 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75243. Her funeral service will be held later that day at 3:00 PM in the Wildwood Chapel there at Restland.Our family wishes to express heartfelt thanks to Christian Care Hospice, especially her nurse Phyllis, and to the many caregivers of Brookdale who provided invaluable support to her the last weeks of her life.Memorial donations may be made to Franklin Graham’s Samaritan Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.
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