Elizabeth Mae “Betty” Allen, age 99, of Festus, Missouri, passed away Saturday, October 11, 2025 at Crystal Oaks Nursing Center in Festus. She was born July 17, 1926, in Plattin, Missouri, the daughter of the late Nellie Fay (nee Miller) and William Alvin Courtney.

She is survived by a son Billy (Cheryl) Allen of Jefferson City, Missouri; daughter Judith (Gary) Myers of Festus; sisters Carol Faye (the late Henry) Chason of Plant City, Florida and Patricia “Diane” (the late Bill) Tindall of Festus; 8 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, 12 great-great-grandchildren and one on the way; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband Cecil Ideal Allen; son James Earl (Mary survives of Festus) Allen; brothers Hugh M. Courtney, William Alvin Courtney, Jr., David Lee (the late Virginia) Courtney and Frank Ray (the late Jamie) Courtney; and sisters Helen Marie (the late Lamar) Spear and infant Nellie Fay Courtney.

She was a longtime member of Lebanon Baptist Church of Bloomsdale, Missouri where she enjoyed teaching the Wee Beginners pre-kindergarten Sunday school class. She cherished the years she spent being a snowbird wintering in Florida with her husband Cecil “Alabama” Allen and spending times with all her family.

Visitation will be at Vinyard Funeral Home in Festus from 4:30 P.M. until the time of funeral services at 6:30 P.M. Tuesday October 21, 2025, officiated by Brother Matt Culbertson, Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Festus. Interment will be 10:00 A.M. Wednesday October 22, 2025, in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in South St. Louis County, Missouri. Memorials in Mrs. Allen’s memory are preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Thank you to Vinyard Funeral Home. Obituary information for Elizabeth Mae Allen

Paul Barnard Editor

Paul Barnard is the editor of the Twin City News. Barnard Graduated from Norwich University, America's oldest private military college, with a B.S. in Communications and Media Technology. There he studied journalism and marketing. For years after, Barnard was in law enforcement and gained experience in the Special Investigations Unit and publishing all the department's press releases. As Barnard's family grew, he moved on to start Twin City News.

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