Mrs. Bessie Jane (Dowden) Allen, 104, of Murray, KY, formerly of Paris, TN, passed away Monday, December 7, 2020, at Murray-Calloway Co. Hospital in Murray, KY.
Born Sunday, March 19, 1916 in Natchitoches, LA, she was the daughter of the late David Dowden, Sr. and the late Martha Sedonia (Alexander) Dowden. She was the wife of the late William Ray “W.R.” Allen.
She was a mother, homemaker, and sales clerk for National Stores, Inc. and J.C. Penney in Paris. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Paris and previously a longtime member of Shady Grove Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School for many years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son, William David Allen, Sr., daughter, Mildred J, McClain, grandchild, William David Allen, Jr., brothers, Grant Dowden, Charlie Dowden, James Lynn Dowden, Milton C. Dowden and David Dowden, Jr., and sister, Minnie Dowden Moseley,
She is survived by one son, Jerry R. (Diana) Allen of Florida, 9 grandchildren including Melanie M. Nix, husband John of Murray, KY, and Brad Allen McClain of Nashville, TN, 21 great-grandchildren, including Hannah Nix and Ben Nix, both of Murray, KY, and Reed McClain and Riley McClain, both of Nashville, TN, and 15 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Friday, December 11, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of the Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home, Coushatta, LA. Rev. Marvin J. Leleux will officiate. Interment will follow the service in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, Hall Summit, LA.
Friends may visit with the family after 9:00 a.m. on Friday until the funeral hour at 11:00 a.m. at the Rockett-Nettles Funeral Home, Coushatta, LA.
Collier Funeral Home of Benton, KY has been entrusted with local arrangements.