Naomi Jesselyn Allen

Naomi Jesselyn (Starkey) Allen, daughter of the late Luther Archibald and Cora Belle (Tucker) Starkey, was born on March 4, 1922 in Tunas, MO, and passed away on February 16, 2018 at Colonial Springs Healthcare in Buffalo, MO. At the time of her passing she was 95 years, 11 months, and 11 days of age. Jesselyn, or Jessie as many people knew her, spent most of her 96 years in Dallas County. She graduated from Tunas High School in 1939, and always looked forward to the annual Alumni Banquet. She was united in marriage to Thomas Otto Allen in 1939, and together they raised six children. Tom and Jesselyn owned and operated a grocery store in Tunas for several years after retiring from farming. After selling the farm, Jesselyn went to work for the Sunstrand Company in Camdenton. In her free time, she enjoyed baking, giving away her famous apple pies, and answering any questions people had about the Tunas community. Jesselyn was well known for her stories and for her knowledge of the history of Dallas County. She will be greatly missed by her family and her community. Jesselyn was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Tom; two sons, James and Stanley; an infant son; her sisters, Wilma Carter, Wanda Bishop, Velma Stidham, Dottie Harman, Edith Mathis, and Kathryn Lane; and one brother, L.A. Starkey. She is survived by three sons, Tom Allen of Preston, MO, Nelson & wife Debra Allen of Tunas, MO, and Richard & wife Anita Allen of Battlefield, MO; one daughter, Martha & husband Tom Dye of Sunrise Beach, MO; one sister-in-law, Luvena Starkey; 16 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and 9 great-great-grandchildren. She also leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members, and many friends who will all truly miss her. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 21. 2018 at the Cantlon Otterness Funeral Chapel of Urbana with Bro. Tony Butcher officiating. Escorts will be her grandsons. Interment will be in the Hopewell Cemetery in Tunas, MO. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or the Hopewell Cemetery Fund and left at the Funeral Home.

Naomi Jesselyn Allen

March 4, 1922 - February 16, 2018