Jacqueline Allen

Jacqueline B. Allen, 73, died Feb. 3, 2010, of natural causes at her home in Anchorage.

A service will be at 3 p.m. Feb. 16 at St. Andrews Catholic Church, 16300 Domain Lane in Eagle River. Father Joseph will officiate. A service will take place in Sarco, Texas, at a later date.

Jackie was born Oct. 9, 1936, in Woodsboro, Texas. She attended secretarial school at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas.

She moved to Anchorage in 1965. She was a longtime employee of Arco Alaska, where she worked as a personal assistant to two presidents of Arco. After retirement from Arco, she performed administrative and logistical support for Exxon during cleanup of the Valdez spill.

She was a member of St. Andrews Catholic Church; ARCO/BP retirees; Petroleum Wives; Desk and Derrik Club; Moose and Elks Lodges. She enjoyed arts and crafts, sewing and knitting.

Her family recalled: "Jackie loved her family and friends. She took pride in being a grandma and great grandma. Compassion was a natural response for Jackie. She was the first in line to help those in need. Her lifelong passion for animals was well known. She included her dogs in her list of best friends. Alaska was home to Jackie for nearly 45 years. She loved the last frontier spirit of her adopted state. Fishing for salmon and halibut lead the list of her favorite things to do in the summer. Her unique collection of sewing machines was evidence of her interest in sewing and crafting. Jackie loved to share stories, funny stories. A sense of humor was a defining quality. She leaves special memories in the lives of all who knew her."

She is survived by her brother, Thomas; sisters, Kathy and Linda; daughter and son-in-law, Shari and Ken Jones; daughter-in-law, Kim Allen; granddaughter, Amber O'Neal and husband Tony O'Neal; grandchildren, Chad, Cameron, Amy Jones and Jamie Allen.

Jackie was preceded in death by her husband H.G. "Shorty" Allen and son, Doug Allen.

Arrangements are by Legacy Funeral Homes, Kehl's Chapel. www.legacyalaska.com