Delphine (Dell) Allen

Services were 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, in Montgomery-Viets Chapel with the Rev. Robert Long officiating. Recorded selections of “Amazing Grace,” “In the Arms of the Angels,” “The Old Rugged Cross” and “Go Rest High on That Mountain” were played with accompanying video. Burial was in Riverview-Sweaney Cemetery under the direction of Montgomery-Viets Funeral Home. Escorts were Phillip Beck, Jeff Cruse, Jerry Glor, Robert Lee, Chad Price and Richard Spinning. Delphine (Del) Allen, 78, was born March 1, 1931, in Paris, Texas, the daughter of Kenneth and Loretta (Ford) Nicholas. She died Nov. 18, 2009, at home with her loved ones at her bedside after a long illness. Her family moved from Texas to California where she met and married Glenn Ballard in 1947. To this union four children were born. They moved their family to the Long Lane area in 1963, and purchased the Buffalo Locker Plant. After her husband’s death, she married Harold Allen and to this union one son was born. They continued to operate the locker and a farm near Long Lane until the present. They enjoyed going to stock car races, but planning and cooking big dinners and family get-togethers at their home was their pride and joy. She was a wonderful cook. Before her failing health, she enjoyed sewing, ceramics and gardening. Her passion was playing bingo every Friday and Saturday night, and in between whenever possible. She accepted Christ as her Savior and was baptized into the First Baptist Church in Concord, Calif., in 1960. She moved her membership to the Buffalo First Baptist Church upon moving to Missouri. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Glenn; an infant son, Glenn Kenneth Ballard; one sister, Faye Lilley; and two brothers: Kenny and Larry Nichols. Survivors include her husband, Harold, Long Lane; her children: Gary and wife, Carol Ballard, and Steve and wife, Leahann Allen, all of Buffalo, Karen and husband, David Alford, Tunas, and Craig Ballard, Kansas City; three stepdaughters: Barbara Agan, Lebanon, Marsha and husband, Doug Andrews, Ervin, Texas, and Carol and husband, Dennis Dame, Springfield; seven grandchildren: Barbie Lee, Angie Glor, Amy Beck, Lisa Price, Alicia Ballard, Brook McCarty and Coltin Allen; nine step-grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren: Nicole and Lainey Glor, Dylan and Alexandria Price, Holden, Mason and Morgan Beck and Emily Garcia.

Delphine (Dell) Allen

March 1, 1931 - November 18, 2009