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Obituary for ALLEN


Published in the Albuquerque Journal on Thursday May 01, 2008

Dorothy "Chick" Mae (Higgins) Allen, 99, was escorted by angels to meet her Lord and Savior on April 28, 2008. She will be reunited with her beloved husband of 77 years, Pickens "Pick" E. Allen, who preceded her in death October 2005, her loving daughter, Dale (Allen) Sanford and her husband, Charles; and many other family members waiting for her in heaven. A Celebration of her life with us and her life now with God will be Saturday, May 3, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Merkel, TX with Reverend Donny Harber officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, directed by Starbuck Funeral Home of Merkel. Chick was born September 21, 1908, in Merkel, TX to Joseph Kincaid and Margaret Brown Higgins. She was one of eight children and the last to leave her beloved family and friends. She was very proud of the fact that she graduated from Merkel High School with a perfect attendance record. Chick enjoyed 99 years with family and friends. She was a wonderful daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother as well as a compassionate person who was always willing to help her family, friends, and guests. Her door was always open, her kitchen full of good food for all, her heart went into everything she did, and she was an inspiration to all who met her. She was a wonderful seamstress and an avid quilter, designing and making numerous clothing items and quilts for family and friends. Chick lived in Albuquerque for the past five years at Garland House, under the loving care and compassion of the staff. She previously lived in Ruidoso, NM for 34 years after she and Pick retired from Los Alamos, NM. Chick managed the Speer's Dept. Store in Los Alamos and Pick worked as a fireman for AEC. While in Ruidoso, Chick volunteered with the Pink Ladies Hospital Auxiliary and helped start the Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop. Survivors include her son, Jerry Allen and wife, Phyllis, of Corrales, NM; daughter, Nancy Hutto and husband, Joe, of Tularosa, NM; 10 grandchildren and their spouses, Marka and David Otoski, Lisa and Jerry Watkins, Russell and Vangie Sanford, Bridget and Tom Swahlen, Paul and Kelli Allen, Scott and Julie Allen, George Hutto, Joy and Robert Baca, Larry and Rachelle Luna, Leroy Luna; 21 great-grandchildren and their spouses, Brandi Baca Zimmerman and Tucker, Jared Otoski and Jessica, Lindsey Otoski Curtis and Jason, Robert Joseph Baca, Jason Swahlen, Taylor Allen and Julia, Griffin Watkins, Chad Otoski, Salomon Baca, Jessica Watkins, Kevin Swahlen, Matthew Sanford, Sarah Sanford, Lisa Luna, Leigh Luna, Katelyn Otoski, Glynna Luna, Michael Swahlen, Jaymi Allen, Kaysi Allen and Dalton Hutto; two great-great-grandchildren, Gabriella Baca and Trystin Zimmerman; sister-in-law, Mabel Higgins, of Merkel, TX; niece, Pat Graves, of Los Alamos, NM; nephew, Ray Roe and wife, Boni, of Pflugerville, TX; and numerous kinfolk living throughout Texas. Pallbearers will be Robert Baca, David Otoski, Jerry Watkins, George Hutto, Tom Swahlen, Russell Sanford, Paul Allen, and Scott Allen. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to the Lincoln County Medical Center Auxiliary, Ruidoso, NM 87345 or Garland House, 7600 Maplewood Dr. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120.