As long as those of us who knew Gordon are alive, his memory will be vivid. 

We will think of something he said or did and wish we could share it with him. And when that happens, I hope people will periodically think to share their memory with the rest of us and that this can be a place to do it.

I appreciated just now reading all the entries from a year ago. On my desk in my office, I keep a copy of the Texas A&M Distinguished Alumni booklet, opened to the photo and write-up on the remarkable achievements of my modestly born and raised cousin from Ravanna.

We have known Gordon for years between working with him at GTE and then going to church with him at Memorial Baptist.  Our memories of his friendship vary greatly in all sorts of ways (you really know Gordon if you know what I mean by the scale and differences of that statement!).  They are memories showing Gordon's passion, humor, caring, laughter, golfing strategies, tree planting skills, singing abilities, home builder, outdoors-man and his surprising (and expected) pranks.  He also had a great ability to lead his church, family & company and had a strong faith in God.  He will be greatly missed and our hearts are breaking for the Allen family and friends at the loss of a great man, husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and yes, friend.

Gordon was a very special man and friend.  His legacy will live on because of his giving heart.  He blessed our church, New Hope Baptist Church in Bloomburg, Texas,  by giving us the Camp Allen Retreat in Ravanna, Arkansas several years back.  The camp has been such a blessing to so many. There have been church retreats, RA retreats, boy scout retreats, school functions, marriages, birthdays, anniversaries, seminars, a haven for Katrina hurricane victim, a place to stay for the Teen Challenge Ministry, church functions, etc.  The list is endless in how it has allowed New Hope Baptist Church to minister to so many.  It is a beautiful and peaceful place.  Everyone who has had the pleasure of going there has received a blessing. Gordon and Rhonda also gave to start a women's ministry at our church that has been such a blessing to churches in our area.  His legacy will live on in our hearts and in the heart of so many others.  We love you Rhonda! We love your family and Bro. Harold and Mrs. Bonnie, Carol and James.  May God grant you His strength, comfort, peace, and love in an abundant way.

We only met Gordon a few short years ago, but he made you feel like you had been a dear close friends forever. Rhonda ours prayers will be with you and your family.

Rest in Peace, Brother Allen you will be missed and God Bless

Seven December of Twenty Fourteen,
A day that saw our hearts bleed..
A man, respected, admired, and beloved 
Was taken as Master decreed.

All will miss this man of renown,
His desire to help those in need.
His talents, his wit, and his wondrous cheer
Never failing to take the lead.

His mother had said, “He's larger than life!”
Yes!  People to him would stampede.
Problems were solved with his advice,
Tough projects would always succeed.

Memories can mend the hurt inside
As onward, we have to proceed.
Tho the shell that housed him will be gone,
Spirit still lives, in thought and in deed.

So go your way, young Allen boy,
Rejoice that you have been freed.
Someday you'll walk on streets of gold!
Keep your eye on us, we plead.

Tragic loss for everyone.   Gordon never met a stranger, his laughter could fill a room and did...one fiesty guy...  He will be missed.

Rhonda, my thoughts an prayers are with you an your family.

My very deepest sympathies to you Rhonda, and the rest of the family.  May God be your strength and shield as you go through the grieving process.  I will be keeping you all in my prayers!

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family Rhonda.  Gordon was a wonderful person inside and out and we all appreciated him during the GTE days. He created a fun working environment that created great memories, lots of laughs that we will all treasure the rest of our life.

Sorry for your loss, I only knew Gordon for a short time but he made me feel like we were old friends from the moment I met him. I will have the family in my prayers.

I would have to say Gordon was one of the few people I have worked with that no matter the subject, no matter the  issue, he brought light and humor into that situation.  Our love and prayers for all that are going to miss him so very much.

Gordon was a one of a kind. Friend, counselor, and fellow Christian. He was the life of any gathering large or small. His wit was quick and his humor unending. His glass was always half full. We all have lost a good one but our loss is Heavens gain.

From New York/D.C. to Los Angeles and many points in between, we in the large diaspora of the descendants of George Solomon and Alphreda Beck of Ravana, Arkansas, are in shock that we have lost our Ambassador-At-Large Gordon Allen.

As we have mass-emailed each other in the two days since receiving the news, the common thread has always been everybody's deep appreciation and amazement at the role that Gordon assumed for keeping the family connected in one form of community or another.

"Hi, this is your cousin Gordon.  I'm in town.  Can I take you to dinner?"   For decades -- first through his career and then his personal travels -- this was a famous greeting when many of us picked up the phone -- no matter how many times we moved or tried to leave no forwarding address!   The voice on the other end of the line was somewhat startling to some of the younger generation in their first years of adulthood when thoughts of shirt-tail cousins weren't on their minds.  But through Gordon's seemingly tireless efforts, we all were at least reminded of our common humanity as the descendants of the 12 children of the Ravana Becks. 

So many of us can recall our surprise at big events like a 50th anniversary or a funeral in other states to turn and see Gordon (and often Rhonda) standing there to lend support. 

To a person, we all value the lightness, humor and joy that Gordon brought into our lives, if only in a brief phone call here and there.  Gordon grew up in far southwest Arkansas and I in the Missouri Ozarks. Nearly the same age, we saw each other only for short glimpses at gatherings at our great-grandparents' place in Ravana, before we grew up and went separate ways.  But within a few years, Gordon began persistently insisting on being a part of my life.  Technically, we were "double-half second cousins," a fact that Gordon twisted into an hilarious story for a Washington D.C. reporter who interviewed us standing in line to get into the 2004 Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball. When he finished, I had to tell the reporter that to protect her reputation she needed to know that less than half of the story was true and that I wasn't sure whether either Gordon or I could be sure which half was.  I have a policy organization in Washington D.C. called "NumbersUSA."  Many years ago, a staff person came to my office and said, "I have a man on the phone who claims he is your cousin but he started off asking me what number we are selling today!"

In my 66 years, I probably haven't spent more than 40 days as an adult in the personal presence of Gordon.  Yet, he has had a profound influence on my life. I agree with several of the shirt-tail cousins who have remarked to me this week that particularly in the last decade they have found themselves "trying to be more like Gordon."  This comes from people who have spent even less time with Gordon than I and speaks to the power of his personality and example. 

We deeply grieve the loss of our family's Ambassador.

Andy your family is in our thoughts and prayers.

Our love & heartfelt sympathy go out to Rhonda & family. Gordon's huge smile & happy attitude brightened our lives every time we saw him. 
Much love.

Gordon was a great friend and a comfort to me in my time of need.  Funny, brilliant and a devoted husband and father.  He will be missed my all.

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Gordon Allen

4 avril 1949 – 7 décembre 2014

East Funeral Home

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