Mabel L. Allen's Obituary
Mabel Louise Harvey Allen, born December 15, 1928, was a “preemie” when premature babies frequently didn’t survive. She was so small that she fit in a cigar box. It is easy to see that she was a fighter her entire life.Having been born blind, she had surgery on her eyes when that specialty was in its infancy. The sight was only partially restored to one eye. She didn’t learn to write cursive until high school. She typed her school work because she was faster at typing than writing and her handwriting was, in her words, atrocious.After insisting that Grandad become a Mason so she could join the Job’s Daughters, she was installed as Honored Queen of Bethel 7 in Kansas City Missouri on January 16, 1948.She was initiated into Eastern Star on May 7, 1948 into Prospect Chapter, No. 524 in Kansas City Missouri.She met the love of her life, Everett Channing “Chan” Allen, at a Job’s Daughter’s dance. They were married on June 26, 1948. After landing a position with KOTV-6, they moved, with a toddler, to Tulsa in 1953.In March of 1954 Mabel affiliated and became a charter member of Martha Daylight chapter 502 where she held several offices and served as Worthy Matron in 1961 and was an active member of the “Ada-Earl” club. She served as Worthy Matron again in 2007 and 2008 with Anne Barnes and Cheryl Martin respectively.Anne Barnes appointed her Grand Representative of California in Oklahoma and she visited California both years and had many fond memories of the friends she met there. Mabel was a 70 year member of the Order.In 2006, Mabel was initiated into the White Shrine of Jerusalem during the Supreme Session of Judy Inukai, SWHP and James H. Parker, SWOS here in Tulsa. She enjoyed this Masonic association and served in several positions. The truth is, she was asked by Duke Isley to join so many times that he wore her down. She told him if she could get Dana to join also, so she had a ride, that she would join the Shrine!Chan and Mabel took up camping as a hobby. One of their goals was to visit every National Park in the US. They almost made it, too! Every summer dad would plan a destination and shove stuff into the trunk of the car. Mom would straighten out his mess so he could shut the trunk, and off we went. Imagine erecting a tent in a park, blowing up air-mattresses and cooking on a Coleman stove with two young girls, and later with two teenaged girls and a baby. My sister, brother and I have been to many interesting places from California to Maine, and North Dakota to Texas, and learned more about our history and environment than most people do in their lifetimes. (My brother got to go to the really neat places like Alaska!)Mabel slipped over the threshold on June 25, 2018. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert E. and Josephine L. Harvey, her beloved husband, “Chan” Allen, and her sister Mary Jo Harvey Wong. She is survived by her daughters, Dana L. Brooks and husband Randall L. Brooks of Osage, Candice S. Kolteryahn of Tulsa, and son Robert Channing “Chan” Allen and his beloved Robin Rotert of Tulsa. Grandchildren Tiffany L. Stem and husband Robert E. Stem of Edmond, Andrea J. Brooks, of Sand Springs, Anthony J. “Joe” Clark and his beloved Kasi Helmley, of Tulsa, and David A. Clark and wife Stephanie of Lynchburg Virginia, Heather D. Bostick and husband of Larry of Florida, New York, Heidi L. Kolteryahn of Tulsa, Daniel R. Kolteryahn of Tulsa and Sara J. Marquez and husband Juan Marquez of Tulsa. Fourteen great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.Her strength and fighting spirit will be missed. Funeral Service to be held Saturday, June 30th, 2018 at 10:00 a.m., at the Floral Haven Funeral Chapel.
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