GRACIE M. ALLEN

  
GRACIE MARIE ALLEN  
A longtime area resident and a retiree of the Chesapeake and Potomac (C&P) Telephone Company, died of complications from pneumonia on the morning of January 12, 2013, at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. She was 87. Born September 9, 1925, on the family farm in Kingsland, Arkansas, the daughter of Samuel Arthur and Mary Ellen (Smith) Allen. Predeceased by her siblings, including her twin brother Macie, she was one of eight children. She was the beloved mother of Sharon Carver, La Jolla, CA; Judith Allen, CA; William Wade, Wilmington, NC; Barbara Hutchison, Fargo, ND; and Deborah Diamond, Silver Spring, MD. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Her marriage of 31 years ended in divorce. Ms. Allen worked as a long distance telephone operator in Arkansas before transferring to the C&P Telephone Company in Washington, D.C., from 1948 until her retirement in 1966. In addition to being a dedicated and conscientious employee, Ms. Allen raised five children while working full time, long before this was the norm. After retirement, she continued working full-time as a receptionist for various corporations including IBM and EDS until 1988. A tireless worker even at home, and a tremendous supporter of her family's activities, she enjoyed many interests and hobbies including spending time with her grandchildren, gardening, sewing, reading, and pursuing her lifelong love of animals. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 19th at the Francis J. Collins Funeral Home, at 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD. The funeral service will then take place at 1 p.m. at the same location, followed by cremation. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association at P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011, or via their web site at http://www.alz.org/www.COLLINSFUNERALHOME.com