Kay Hightower Allen

Kay Hightower Allen, age 80 of Garland, Texas passed away on September 27, 2022. She was born on June 4, 1942, in Duncan, Oklahoma to parents Manton and Ima Jeanne (Cates) Hightower.

Kay grew up in Duncan where she attended and graduated from Duncan High School in 1960.

Kay attended a number of colleges including Nichols State and Southwestern Louisiana where she received multiple degrees before receiving her Master of Arts and Literature degree from The University of Texas.

She had a passion for teaching and a long career as a high school English teacher and college writing and literature instructor. She taught AP English, Dual credit, honors, and American Literature. She taught 23 years in McAlester, Oklahoma at the high school and Eastern Oklahoma State college. She moved to Texas in 2000 to be close to her sons and grandchildren. She taught at Plano West High school, Sachse High School and Richland Community College.

Kay loved to travel. Her favorite place to visit was London, England. She spent many summers there as a school sponsor and traveling with family. She loved to shop at Harrods, enjoyed drinking tea and eating scones. Some of Kay's other hobbies include, reading, bible studies, weight watchers, watching British comedies, and shopping on QVC and Amazon.

Her greatest joy in life was being a mother and a nana. Being a mom of three athletic boys she was naturally a huge sports fan. She loved watching her boys play sports, as well as, watching college games with them on TV. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and sharing pictures and updates about them on Facebook. She enjoyed family trips to the beach, seafood, and holidays spent with family.

Kay was a fighter. She survived the loss of her oldest son and immediately thereafter, beat stage 4 cancer twice. No matter what adversities she faced in life her faith and love for her Lord and Savior never wavered and she never gave up. We have peace in knowing she is with the Lord. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Kay is survived by sons Joel Allen and his wife Samantha of Dallas, Texas and Jeffrey Allen and his wife Jennifer of Rockwall, Texas; grandchildren Jessica Allen, John Christian Allen, Jennifer Allen, Henry Allen, Audrey Allen, Jordan Allen, Jaden Allen, Jace Allen, Dylan Shadle, Jenner Allen, and Mitchell Jay "MJ" Allen; great grandchildren Evalynn Allen, Claire Allen, Olivia Allen and Asher Sneed, brother Monty Hightower and his wife Kathryn of Lawton, Oklahoma, sister Jeanne Woody and her husband Steve of Duncan, Oklahoma and brother-in-law Ed Jansson of Cabot, Arkansas and many other loving relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Manton and Ima Jeanne (Cates) Hightower, son John "Jay" William Allen, and sister Judith Anne Jansson.

Honorary pallbearers are John Christian Allen, Henry Allen, Jordan Allen, Jaden Allen, and Jace Allen.

The family will receive friends for a visitation Sunday, October 2, 2022, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at Allen Family Funeral Options.

A funeral service to celebrate Kay's life will be Monday, October 3, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. with Ed Jansson officiating.

There will be a reception to follow the service.

Kay will be laid to rest at Resthaven Memorial Park in Duncan, Oklahoma.