Cecil Wayne Allison

The life and love of Wayne Allison will be celebrated on Saturday, February 4, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., at First Christian Church. He passed from this life to his heavenly home on Sunday, January 29, 2023.

Cecil Wayne Allison, 92, was born on February 24, 1930, in Wichita Falls, Texas, where he lived until he and his family moved to Lubbock in 1970. He was a graduate of Wichita Falls High School and Midwestern University, where he lettered in baseball as a pitcher and was elected to many positions of leadership, including president of his class all four years. After obtaining his business degree, Wayne was employed with the YMCA, working with young people. He soon met the love of his life, Jane Shawver. They were married on June 22, 1957 and raised three children, Jana, David, and Don, all of whom brought him great joy.

Wayne also played semi-professional baseball for several years after college and in 1958, began a career in the life insurance business in Wichita Falls, working for Williams-Dwyer and New York Life. In 1970, the Allison family moved to Lubbock when Wayne accepted a job with Blue Cross-Blue Shield in the area of group life and health insurance. Later, he and two colleagues began their own company, Employee Benefits Associates, from which Wayne retired in 2014. Over the years, he was active in many civic organizations. Wayne was a member of the First Christian Church, where he served as an elder for over fifty years. He was also a member of the Texas National Guard.

From the time his father bought him his first glove, Wayne loved the game of baseball. Wayne’s father, Cecil, also played semi-professional baseball, and introduced his son to the game. Although Wayne had always planned to attend college, his life could have taken a somewhat different turn. In the summer after graduating from high school, Wayne was playing summer baseball and working to earn money for college. He had already paid his fall semester tuition of $50 when he received a telegram from the Major League Baseball franchise of the St. Louis Browns (later the Cleveland Orioles), complete with signing bonus, offering him a pitching job. The Browns were only three years removed from having won the American League pennant, but Wayne made the difficult decision to forgo his childhood dream of playing professional baseball and pursue a college degree, a decision which he never regretted.

Wayne was a man of strong faith and enviable character complimented by great humility, truly both a gentleman and a gentle man. He loved all genres of music and fostered his enjoyment with his children, enthusiastically sharing his extensive collection. A devoted family man, he loved BIG and enjoyed nothing more than spending time with family and attending all of the sporting events and performances. He loved to laugh and often shared silly jokes, expressions, and songs. Wayne was intentional in his relationships, whether a casual conversation or a request for advice, his time was totally yours.

Wayne Allison is survived by his loving wife, Jane; daughter, Jana Jones and husband Steve, of Decatur, son, David W. Allison, and daughter-in-law, Stephanie Allison; granddaughters, McKinzie Allison Sanders and husband Stephen, and Sarah Allison Shipley and husband Jonathan; grandsons, Matt Jones and fiancée Ruth Beaman, Drew Jones, and Zachary Allison; sister-in-law Jean Stockstill; nephew, Jeff Madrid and wife Tammy; eight great-grandchildren; and many other family members and friends. He is preceded in death by son, Donnie Allison and parents, Cecil and Koleta (Kay) Allison.

Honorary pallbearers are Steve Jones, Matt Jones, Drew Jones, Zachary Allison, Jeff Madrid, Jonathan Shipley, Stephen Sanders, and Al Williams.

Memorial contributions may be made to Celebrate Today, UMC Foundation, P.O. Box 5980, Lubbock, Texas 79408 or First Christian Church, 2323 Broadway, Lubbock, Texas 79401.