Willie Mae Allen

Willie Mae Allen, age 67, of Natchitoches, LA, passed away Friday, April 13, 2007, at the Grace Home in Shreveport, LA after a lengthy battle with lung cancer. She was born on October 18, 1939 in Natchitoches, LA. She and her husband moved to Vivian, LA in 1969 where they resided for 28 years. She was the owner and operator of the Countryside Nursery and Florist Shop in Vivian. Upon returning to Natchitoches in 1997 she assumed the ownership of Hilltop Nursery in the Oak Grove Community. She was a member of the Coldwater Baptist Church. Mrs. Willie loved to work with flowers, spend time with her family, and she loved Lacy, her bedside companion when she was sick. She was a wonderful storyteller and will be greatly missed by her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, Willie Gray and Pearl Stephens Gray; one daughter, Michelle Chante' Balthrop; and two sisters, Pearlie Rhodes and Clara Ann Gooden. She is survived by her husband Ray H Allen af Natchitoches; two sons, Randy Allen and wife Fredlinda of Shreveport, LA and Rodney Allen and wife Kim of Franklin, TN; one daughter, Kimberly Purcell of Natchitoches, LA, one son-in-law, Chip Balthrop of Shreveport, LA; nine grandchildren, Jennifer Purcell of Natchitoches, LA, Brandon Allen of Monroe, LA, Amber Allen of Monroe, LA, Samantha Huffman of Shreveport, LA, Dylan Huffman of Shreveport, LA, Bailey Balthrop of Shreveport, LA, Chandler Allen of Franklin, TN, Nicholas Balthrop of Shreveport, LA, and Cooper Allen of Franklin, TN; one sister, Gloria Garner of Shreveport, LA; and one brother, Roy Pardue of Natchitoches, LA. Pallbearers will be Greg Allen, Ted Allen, Roger Allen, Brad Allen, Ricky Rains, Paul Gooden, Danny Myers, John Allen, and Cole Weeks. Arrangements are being handled by Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches, LA. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Monday, April 16, 2007 at the Coldwater Baptist Church in Hagewood, LA. The funeral service will be held at the Coldwater Baptist Church at 11:00 AM Tuesday, April 17, 2007, with Rev. Richard Beeman officiating. Interment will be at Oak Grove Methodist Cemetery in Natchitoches, LA. Online condolences may be given at www.blanchardstdenisfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Cancer Society or the Grace Home in Shreveport, LA.