Bessie Allen

Bessie Bryan Allen passed away Friday, May 7, 2010. She was born July 13th in Mud, Travis County, Texas to her parents, Charlie and Ellen Lohman. Bessie married Paul Edward Bryan. Four children were born to this union, two sons, Donald Edward and Aubrey Earl and two daughters, Sandra Jo and Brenda Joyce. Bessie retired from PPG chemical division in Corpus Christi, Texas where she worked as a Laboratory Analyst for 36 years. After her first husband, Paul Bryan, passed away, she married George Roy Allen, a native of Charlottesville, Virginia. George was a rail buff, and since they met on a train, it seemed only fitting that their wedding should take place on a train. They were married on the Amtrak Crescent between Manassas, Virginia and Washington, D.C. on December 29, 1989. Bessie was a lady of strong faith in God’s word, and accepted every opportunity in teaching the gospel to others resulting in leading a large number of people to Christ. She believed in the power of prayer and trusted the Lord to take her where He wanted her to go. She loved her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, church family and friends. Bessie will be missed, but not forgotten. She can be characterized as a person who loved nature in the way God changed seasons. She loved mountains, streams, birds and flowers. She was a courageous person who left a Christ-like example for others to follow. Bessie was preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Ellen Lohman; her first husband, Paul Edward Bryan; one daughter, Sandra Jo Bryan; her brothers, Owen and O. B. Lohman; her sisters, Iula Wieland, Iona Fetner and Lorena Hammack LeBleu. Survivors include her husband, George Allen of Corpus Christi, Texas; children, Dr. Donald Bryan and wife Jean of Sandia, Texas, Aubrey Bryan and wife Beatrice of Corpus Christi, Texas, Brenda Smalling and husband Roy of Alice, Texas; six grandchildren, Scott Bryan and wife Kristi of San Angelo, Texas, Ben Bryan of Rotan, Texas, Alan Smalling and wife Amy of The Colony, Texas, Matthew Smalling and wife Nikki of Odessa, Texas, Aubrey Bryan, Jr. of Denver, Colorado, Judith Chen and husband Jerry of Singapore; 18 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 2 P.M. until 7 P.M. with the family present from 2 P.M. until 4 P.M. Sunday, May 9, 2010 at Sawyer-George Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 10 A.M. Monday, May 10, 2010 at Sawyer-George Funeral Home Chapel with her son-in-law, Roy Smalling, officiating. Burial will follow in Seaside Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be her grandchildren. Those who wish, may make contributions to their favorite charity. The family would like to thank the Doctors and Staff of Christus Spohn Hospital Shoreline 8th floor and TRISUN Care Center, River Ridge, for their special care of Bessie during her last days.