MERLE ALLEN

Merle Allen, a resident of South Fulton, died April 8 at the Jackson Purchase Medical Center in Mayfield. He was 79.

Due to the current events surrounding the viral pandemic of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Allen family will have a private graveside service as required by Kentucky and Tennessee guidelines. Hornbeak Funeral Chapel, of Fulton, was in charge of arrangements.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Judith (Davis) Allen, of South Fulton; a daughter, Beverly Berry, of Wilmington, N.C.; a son, Brian Allen (Adriana), of South Fulton; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; two brothers, Harold (Janet) Allen, of Odessa, Texas. and George (Elaine) Allen, of South Fulton; and two sisters, Lora (Patrick) James, of South Fulton, and Rose (Royce) Oliver, of Fulton.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William N. and Ruby (O’Brien) Allen; two sisters, Barbara Tidwell and Mary Olive; and three brothers, Duane Allen, Charles “JR” Allen and Donald Allen.

Born Feb. 12, 1941 in Marion County, Ill. in the village of Tonti, he was raised in Fredericktown, Mo., a town in the Missouri Ozark Mountains that he dearly missed and visited quite often.

He graduated from Marquand High School in 1960 and soon after joined the Missouri Army National Guard, in which he received an honorable discharge.

In 1962 his entire family moved to South Fulton and his parents eventually established Allen’s Fireworks, a business that operated many years on the Fulton/Martin Highway.

On June 12, 1964, he married Judith Davis, daughter of Leon and Anna (Garrison) Davis, and they would have soon celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary.

In 1965, he went to work for General Tire and Rubber Company in Mayfield, where he was a Final Finish Inspector.

He retired after 32 years of service in 1997.

He also ventured out and went into the beekeeping business, in which he produced and sold honey back in the 1970’s on his label.

He also was into acrylic rock clock making as well at that time.

He will always be remembered mostly his faith in Jesus Christ and his knowledge of the Bible. He enjoyed listening to Gospel Quartets and the preaching of Billy Graham.

He was a history buff and traveled all over the United States to visit historical sites along with many places of interest.

Tributes may be left online at www.hornbeakfuneralchapel.com/