Trenton
Beverly Kay Allen, 78, died peacefully, November 24, 2013 in Bangor, surrounded by family, after an eight week battle with interstitial lung disease (ILD) related to her rheumatoid arthritis. She was born in Franklin, a daughter of Merle Augustus and Olive Marjorie (DeBeck) Smith.
She graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1952 and got a scholarship to the Malden Hospital School of Nursing in 1953 where she excelled and got her 3 year degree as a Registered Nurse and came back to work for George Sanger M.D. an OBGYN in Ellsworth, enjoying helping to deliver babies until her own kids came along, although she was also seen tying up bundles of Christmas wreaths while 7 months pregnant with Matthew helping that business get off the ground. Beverly loved traveling; seeing much of the world with George, her beloved husband of 46 years (though she did pass on joining him when he took a sightseeing flight over Antarctica) and, after his passing, continued those trips with close friends and relatives but always ended back up here in Maine to be near the many of members of her large family in the area and the home she loved at the place she spent many summer days corralling hordes of kids with her sisters while enjoying way more sun then is now considered healthy. Like her father, she was an avid reader (we respectfully ask that Stephanie Plum’s grandmother NOT be invited to the service) and loved the lively political “discussions” so well known on the Smith side of her family but her passion was the well being of her family for whom she would spare no time or effort to help in our times of need and it’s that devotion we will miss the most. That and maybe her wonderful, and occasionally dark, sense of humor that worked so well at smoothing over those rough patches and brightening the many many good days, even using it to charm the staff at EMMC in her final weeks. Thanks Carlene, and all the others there for your help and support.
She is survived by her sons, Gregory Allen, Jason Allen and his wife Jennifer, all of Trenton, and Andrew Allen and wife Alice, of Ellsworth; her aunt Raymah Leavitt; her sisters Eleanor DiBella of Franklin, Jacquelyn Leavitt and husband Sharland of Ellsworth, Sandra Ingalls of Franklin; brother, Douglas Smith and wife Joan of Franklin; and her in-laws, Cynthia Smith, Lorraine and Joseph Saunders, Peter and Carol Allen, and Roy and Ardis Allen; her six grandchildren, Christopher Allen, Rachael Hicks and Joseph Allen, Michael, Justin, and John Allen; and great-granddaughter, Jaidin Hicks; her cousin and close friend, Betty Austin; as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, George; son, Matthew; brother, Ronald Smith and daughter-in-law, Nora Allen.
Lastly, we’d like to thank everyone for their cards, prayers, well wishes, and visits, they were a great comfort, but we’d especially like to thank her nieces Mary Smith and Deborah Leavitt for their many hours working with her in the hospital; as well as thanks to her sister Sandra and close friend Elizabeth Wagner, for the weeks spent keeping her company in trying times. We know you were glad to do it but she was, and we will always be grateful you were able to be there for her.
A memorial service will be held 2:00 pm, Sunday, December 1st at Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin St. Ellsworth. The interment will be held in the spring.
Contributions in Beverly’s memory may be made to the American College of Rheumatology, Research and Education Fund, 2200 Lake Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30319
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.