Zelda Mae (Sutton) Allen

Zelda Mae Sutton Allen, a devoted wife, mother, and sister passed away peacefully in her daughter’s loving arms at Scott and White hospital in Temple, Texas on June 13, 2025, at the age of 95. Services will be held at 10 am Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Belton Church of Christ. Burial will follow in North Belton Cemetery.

Born on November 7, 1929, to Nallie and Cora Mae Sutton of Salado, Texas, Zelda began her career as the administrative assistant for the District Attorney in Bell County, where she met the love of her life, Ernest Lee Allen. They were married on August 23, 1952, in Temple, Texas. After 14 years of blissful marriage, they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Amanda Francis Allen, who became the center of their universe. Zelda became a stay-at-home mom until 1971 when Amanda started school, and Zelda began working for the Belton Independent School District. In 1983 she became the administrative assistant for the Third Administrative Judicial Region of Texas.

Zelda was involved in the PTA, Belton Marching 100 Band Boosters, and all the school organizations Amanda participated in. She was an accomplished genealogist and a 50+ year member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, where she served on numerous boards at national, state, and local levels. She was also a 50+ year member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, where she served on state and local level boards.

She helped found the Casa de Tejas chapter of the Children of the American Revolution, and the Sam Houston chapter of the Children of the Republic. In 1976 she was the chairman for Central Texas for the bicentennial for the United States. She accomplished having the Belton Fourth of July celebration recognized as the longest continually running celebration in the United States and was filmed nationally by Tom Brokaw. Her accomplishments are too numerous to name, but when asked what her greatest accomplishment was she said being Ernest Allen’s wife and Amanda Allen’s mother.

Zelda was a graduate of Salado High School and Temple Business College. She was a lifelong member of the Belton Church of Christ and an active member of the Democratic Party.

She is survived by her daughter, Amanda Allen of Belton; two nephews, Beauford and Lee Lackey of Pendleton; many great nieces and nephews and great great nieces and nephews; and many friends. She will be missed more than words can say.

Zelda was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Allen on February 7, 1999; her parents, Nallie and Cora Mae Sutton; her sister, Edna Arlee Lackey of Pendleton; and her sister, Vada Sutton of Belton.

A time of visitation will be held from 6-8 pm Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Belton.