Mary Gene O'Banion Allen

Mary Gene O'Banion Allen was born on January 12, 1925 in Mexia, Texas to Ollie Jenkins O'Banion and Eugene C. O'Banion. In 1942 she graduated from Mexia High School, attended and graduated from St. Paul's School of Nursing in Dallas, Texas in 1946.

She then moved to McAllen, Texas to work. There she met the love of her life Howard Griffin Allen. They married on July 16,1949 and were parents to 6 children - Deborah Sue Allen, Donna Lou Allen (Paul) Serbanic, Griffin Lane Allen (Margaret), Lisa Jane Allen Sears Dixon (Pat), Patrick Lee Allen (Arlene), and Michael Gene Allen (Melissa Lyons).

She is survived by her children and their spouses, 13 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson, her nieces Beata Hicks and Alice Lentz and nephews Joe O'Banion, Bruce Allen, Scotty Allen, Murray Allen and Jonathan Marrs. She was predeceased by Howard, her grandson Cory Allen Sears, sisters Eugenia Sexton and Elizabeth O'Banion, and brother Joe Carroll O'Banion.

Howard's job was in the oil industry, and required frequent moves across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, with their final move being to Houston, Texas in 1970. As children began to fill their lives, Mary made the decision to become a stay-at-home mom. She found time to do volunteer work and stay involved in the children's activities.

Eventually she decided to return to nursing and took a refresher course offered by Methodist Hospital in Houston and began working there part-time in the Intermediate Cardiac Care Unit from 1971-1992. She was honored during her tenure with Employee of the Quarter. Even while working she continued her volunteer work at MAM in Spring Branch area and the Fair Haven UMC food pantry. Her focus was always on her family and helping others. In 2017 she moved from her house to independent apartment living when she could no longer work perform her yard and garden work. In 2022 she moved into assisted living at Parkway Place.

In lieu of flowers Mary requested that donations be made to your favorite charity.