Marie Ann McAllister Allen, 53, of Dalton, Georgia, peacefully passed away Sunday, February 26, 2017 at her residence.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Colleen Sosebee McAllister; brother, James McAllister; grandparents, Walter and Erma Dyer Sosebee and Claud and Lula Cole McAllister; father and mother-in-law, James E. and Sharon Rogers Allen, Sr.
Marie was born April 11, 1963 at Hamilton Memorial Hospital of Dalton. She attended Northwest Whitfield High School and graduated in 1981. She earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from Dalton Junior College, Bachelors of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education from West Georgia College and Masters of Arts from Piedmont College. Marie was saved and baptized as a young child. Following God's purposes for her life, she taught children in elementary school, vacation bible school and Sunday school classes at Carolyn Baptist Church and Grove Level Baptist Church. She was loved by her church family. Marie retired from teaching with Dalton Public Schools after 28 years of service. She made a difference in the lives of the students she taught and enjoyed close friendships with many teachers, administrators and staff.
She is survived by her husband, James E. Allen, Jr.; father Leon McAllister of Dalton; sisters, Rena Woodward of San Diego, CA, Gail and Lamar Womac of Dalton; niece, Laura Woodward of San Diego, CA and nephews, Chris Woodward of San Diego, CA, Ezackery and Ethan Womac of Dalton; best friend and sister, Suzanne Arnold of Dalton; and special fur babies, Charlie, Cecil, Carly, Daisy and Boo Boo.
A home going service to honor the life of Mrs. Marie Allen will be held on Wednesday, March 1, at 1 p.m. at the Pleasant Grove Chapel of Julian Peeples Funeral Home with Dr. Charlie Bridges and Rev. Bill Walker officiating. Burial will be in United Memorial Gardens of Dalton. Serving as pallbearers will be: Bryan McAllister, Scott McAllister, Jeff Sosebee, Steve Sosebee and Ryan Robbs. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jimmy McAllister, Gary Sosebee and Mike Parham.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, February 28 from 6-9 p.m.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Humane Society of Northwest Georgia, 1703 Cleveland Hwy, Dalton, GA 30721 or ALS Clinic at Erlanger, 979 East Third Street, Suite C-830, Chattanooga, TN 37403.
The family would like to thank all of the following health caregivers for their love and support to Mrs. Allen: Beverly Bettis, Heather Roberts, Charlene Peeks, Stacy Cochran, Jennifer Goswick, Jana Kincaid, Laura Hatchett, Misty Cokinos, Olivia Schmitt, Kenna Hayes and Kathy Roe. Special thanks to those health care employees at Homestead Hospice, Erlanger Hospital and Siskin Rehabilitation Center for the exceptional care given to Mrs. Allen during her illness.
Funeral arrangements are by Julian Peeples Funeral Home, Pleasant Grove Chapel, Dalton.