Margaret Allen

It is with a deep sense of sorrow and loss that our family announces the passing of Margaret Ann Allen. On October 15, 2024, she went to be with the Lord and reunited with her husband, James Lester Allen.

Margaret was born on July 1, 1936 in Loudon County, TN, and raised in Philadelphia, TN. She married James Lester Allen on October 5, 1956, at Philadelphia First Baptist Church and spent 46 beautiful years together. During their married life, they lived in Memphis, Cleveland, Kingsport, and Oskaloosa, IA. In 1972, Margaret and her family settled in Sweetwater, TN, where they became members of the First Baptist Church.

Margaret worked as a bank teller, a homemaker, and managed her husband's practice for several years. She was a loving and dedicated mother to five children and always acted as their greatest supporter. An avid dog-lover, Margaret rescued many dogs over the years- Annie, Mugsy, Lulu, and Sam. Her hobbies included reading, painting ceramics, and spending time with close friends - Ken and Cricket Archer, Betty and Alvin Fox, AJ and Ernestine Wallace, Hugh and Bunny Standridge, and Jim and Betty Jo Plemons.

Margaret is survived by her children, Leslie (Bobby) Grayson of Cleveland, TN, Lynda Allen of Sweetwater, TN, Jim Allen of Athens, TN, Kay (Daryl) Brown of Knoxville, TN and Kim (Steve) Hudson of Abilene, TX; grandchildren, Zack Grayson of Cleveland, TN, Becky Grayson of Cleveland, TN, Casey Grayson of Athens, TN, Phillip Grayson of Athens, TN, Sonya Grayson of Orient, OH, Chris Grayson of Sweetwater, TN, Jessica (Jeremy) Ray of Murfreesboro, TN, Bo (Mallory) Edwards of Sweetwater, TN, Kristin (Michael) Barbree of Soddy Daisy, TN, Erica (Nick) Peden of Athens, TN, Lexie (Yancey) Allen - Athens, TN, Tyler Allen - Athens, TN, Shelby Neil - Knoxville, TN, Bailey Neil of Knoxville, TN, Dylan Brown of Knoxville, TN, Rebecca Romines of Abilene, TX, Daniel Romines of Abilene, TX; eight great-grandchildren and her sister, Judy Versavage of Midland, MI along with nieces and nephews, Randy Purdy of Bristol, TN, Cereta Beck of Cleveland, TN, Traci VanNostran of Cleveland, TN, Chrisitna Butkiewicz of Kalamazoo, MI.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Lester Allen, MD; her parents Fred Purdy and Stella Purdy Schrimsher; her stepfather, Lloyd Schrimsher; parents-in-law Amos and Gladys Allen; her brother and sister Lee Andrew "Buddy" Purdy and Lucille Norris; her sisters-in-law Bettye Purdy Ratledge and Virginia Allen Bledsoe; her niece, Becky Milligan; her daughter-in-law, Regina Allen.

Thank you to the devoted staff of Life Care Center of Athens for their compassion and unwavering support during Maragaret's last seven years.

A private graveside service for friends and family will be held on Friday, October 18, at Sweetwater Memorial Gardens. In place of flowers, the family asks that you please donate to the McMinn Regional Humane Society in Margaret's memory.

You are encouraged to share a memory of  Margaret and/or your personal condolences with her family by visiting her memorial webpage and guestbook at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home and the Cody family are honored to assist her family with these arrangements.