Oleta Mae Shepard Allen "Gan Gan", 96, of Sherwood, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Thursday, August 1, 2019. She was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, as well as a friend to all. She was born July 17, 1923, in Shawmut, Arkansas.
Oleta graduated from Fairview High School in Camden, Arkansas. She graduated from Arkansas State A&M College (SAU) in Magnolia with an Associate of Arts degree then later obtained her Library Science degree from Oklahoma State University in 1967. She spent 41 years teaching and working with students. Oleta retired from Sylvan Hills High School as Librarian in 1984.
Oleta was a member of First Baptist Church of Sherwood for 55 years with many of those years teaching Sunday school.
She was preceded in death by her parents, N. W. and Effie Lee, her husbands, James H. Shepard and Charles L. Allen, brother-in-law, Harold Brinson and niece, LeeAnn Hughes.
Survivors include daughter and son-in-law Betty and Ken Colbert of Sherwood, son and daughter-in-law Steve and Renee Shepard of Jonesboro, three grandchildren and spouses, Ginny Young (Jason), Leah Brewer (Ben) and Tanner Shepard (Shayna), six great grandchildren, two sisters, Gene Brinson and Carolyn Hughes (Billy Ray), and one brother, Donald Lee (Glenda). Also included as survivors are a stepdaughter, Caryn Lender (Jamey) and stepson, David Allen, along with nieces, nephews, and many friends.
The family would like to thank our angels that became like family. Her caregiver, Mae, who spent countless hours day and night with her as well as Aaryn and Trish, from Baptist Hospice. They treated her like a queen and she loved it!
Visitation will be Sunday, August 4, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. and funeral services on Monday, August 5, at 10:00 a.m. at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills in North Little Rock.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Sherwood, fbcsherwood.com/give/
or the TeleBible Sunday School Class at Immanuel Baptist Church, Attn: Finance Office, 501 N. Shackleford Rd., Little Rock, AR 72211.
To share a memory of Oleta with her family visit www.griffinleggettresthills.com
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