The Memorial services Celebrating and Honoring the life of Mrs. Joan Allen, of Enid will be held at 6:00 P.M. Monday June 17, 2019 in the David Allen Memorial Ball Park with Reverend Dr. John Toles of St. Mathews’ Episcopal Church officiating. Services are under the direction of Brown-Cummings Funeral Home. The family asks that attendees wear whatever ballpark attire makes them comfortable.
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Joan Louise Webster was born in Kearney, Nebraska on April Fool’s day in 1937 to Dillo and Romayne Webster. She grew up in Kearney alongside her twin sister Joyce, then in 1955 enrolled in the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. She was as ambitious as she was exceptional in her studies; but she also was distracted by Paul Allen, whom she met in her freshman year. Their whirlwind courtship lead to marriage soon after they met, and 10 months and 2 days later they had son Mark to show for it. Joan had added extra hours and summer school to her pregnancy in order to graduate in three years, which she did with Distinction. Paul graduated at the same time and the Allens moved to Fremont, Nebraska for Paul’s first job. Two years later David was born, and then Paul’s career took them to Austin, Minnesota where Greg was born.
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Joan had three young boys to care for and she was in heaven on earth, because she loved being a Mom more than anything else. But she also liked school and so after the family moved to Oklahoma City in 1967, Joan earned a Master’s degree in Dietary Nutrition Management at Oklahoma State University.
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In 1973, the Allens made their final move, to Enid, Oklahoma, where Joan’s employment opportunities and newly discovered social life rounded out her family time. She first worked as Head Dietician at Enid Memorial Hospital, then as a consultant in child nutrition, and eventually as a resource for the Research and Development team at Advance Food Company. She also found time to become a private pilot, a hobby she enjoyed for many years. All the while Joan continued with her dream job, which was raising three boys. When middle son David was severely injured at age 18, Joan spent 13 years by his side developing and then executing a rehabilitation plan that professionals and some friends suggested may be a waste of time. But her tenacity and creativity led to an amazing result with David, as he learned to speak for a second time, graduated with an Associate’s degree from Colorado Mountain College and went on to work as a cost accountant in the family business. Joan gave David life twice.
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During the last 35 years of her life, Joan was a tremendous friend not just to so many people in Enid, but also to many organizations. She was most passionate, however, about the David Allen Memorial Ballpark and the Enid Symphony Orchestra. Her financial support was significant, but her hours and hours of volunteering was priceless. She received many honors including YWCA’s Woman of the Year in 2002 and United Way’s Dick Lambertz Memorial Award in 2018.
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Joan is survived by her husband of 61 years Paul; sons and daughters-in-law Mark and Jennifer of Oklahoma City, and Greg and Elizabeth of Charlottesville, Virginia; grandchildren Matthew, Claire (and husband Tim), Erik, Jake, Katherine, Cooper and Ivy; great-grandchildren Carter and David; and her sister Joyce of Lafayette, Colorado.
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Joan left us in her sleep on Friday, June 14 at her home in Enid with Paul, Mark, Greg and her beloved caretaker Tammy Morales at her side.
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In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Enid Symphony Orchestra or St. Matthews Episcopal Church of Enid with Brown-Cummings Funeral Home serving as custodians of the funds.
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Condolences may be made to the family online at www.Brown-Cummings.com. As one of Oklahomaʼs oldest single family owned and operated providers of funerals and cremations, Brown-Cummings is the name families have turned to for generations. They fully understand the honor and responsibility entrusted to them to preserve the story of oneʼs life. Visit 400 W. Maple, Enid, OK 73701. Call: (580) 237-5432.
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Obituaries are posted due to the generosity of The Commons.
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