Veda Ferina Lewis Allen of Willis, Texas, passed into the loving arms of our Lord at her home on Thursday, April 12, 2018, at age 101. She was a devoted and wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Veda was born Aug. 3, 1916 to Mary Artall and Julius Ferina in Melville, Louisiana. She is survived by her children: William (Bill) Lewis, Leroy (Lee) Lewis, Jr., Mary Beth Hogan and her husband, Phil, Mary Ethelyn Allen Bosarge and her husband, Loran, Raymond (Buz) Allen, Jr., and daughters-in-law Mary Lewis and Linda Lewis. Also surviving are her adoring grandchildren: Amy Lewis, Allen Lewis, Todd Lewis and wife, Jessica, Brian Lewis, David Lewis and his wife, Kristen, Trey Hogan and his wife, Sarah, Nikki Hight and her husband, Casey, Chad Hebert and his wife, Liz, Christy Hebert Fargo and her husband, Ladd, Frank Allen and his wife, April, Mark Allen, and Blake Allen. Also surviving are her great-grandchildren: Kelly Lewis, Parker Hight, Austin, Sean, and McKenna Fargo, Cooper Hebert, Audie Allen, and Wallis Allen. She is also survived by her niece Mary Lee Laster, nephew Gene Allen Hernandez and wife, Betty, adopted couple Barbara and Danny McGoogan, very special friend Ragna Engen, and numerous cousins, great-nieces, great-nephews, and loving friends. Veda grew up and graduated from Melville High School, then went on to receive a teaching certificate at Sacred Heart College in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. She taught 1st grade in Melville, Louisiana, for many years. She married Leroy Lewis in 1941 and was married for 15 years until his death in 1957. That year she received a bachelor’s degree in teaching from Southwestern Louisiana Institute in Lafayette, Louisiana, and continued teaching in Melville. She married Raymond I. Allen in 1967 and moved to Opelousas, Louisiana, where she taught 1st grade at South Street Elementary for many years. They were married for 27 years until his death in 1994. She moved to Willis, Texas in 1992 to be close to family. Veda loved her family, her God, and her Catholic faith. She delighted in dancing with Raymond, occasionally in their own living room. She was an active member of Sacred Heart Parish for many years. She thoroughly enjoyed cooking, eating crawfish, and playing Canasta with Ragna and her friends, sometimes even until the wee hours of the morning. She loved her family dearly and enjoyed spending time with them most. Visitation will be held at Cashner Funeral Home on Friday, April 20, 2018, from 9-11 am, with a rosary starting at 10:30 am. Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 20, 2018 at 11 am in Cashner Colonial Chapel with Father Emmanuel Akpaidem officiating. Burial will be held Saturday, April 21, 2018, at 2pm in Bellevue Memorial Park Cemetery in Opelousas, Louisiana. You are invited to view our webpage and leave written tributes to the family at cashnerconroe.com. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Veda’s favorite charity, the St. Jude shrine, www.shrineofstjude.org or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, www.stjude.org
