Emma "Jo" Lurline Allen

Emma “Jo” Lurline Allen, passed away on Sunday, June 13, 2010 at the Park Place Manor Nursing Home in Belton, Texas, where she was surrounded by her family. She was 84. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Tuesday, June 15, 2010, at the Groesbeck Church of Christ, with Brother Richard Williams and Brother Charles Daily officiating. Burial will follow at Faulkenberry Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Mike Chapman, Jeff Allen, Jason Allen, Chris Hoke, Ben Keechi, and Brandon Zellers, with honorary pallbearers, Kacey Keechi, Mitchell Powers, Joey Allen, Eric Hoke, Stephen Nichols, and Steve Chapman. Emma was born on December 19, 1925 to William Lloyd and Johnnie (McClendon) Lloyd at Groesbeck. She nicknamed herself “Jo” when she started school and has been lovingly known as that ever since. She grew up and attended school in the Box Church and Groesbeck area. She married at age 16, the beloved wife of Garven Edell Allen, and they had five children. Garven entered the military in World War II and they lived a brief time in California, then returned to Groesbeck. They lived in various towns where he worked as a police officer, while Jo was an amazing wife, mother, and homemaker. In the early eighties, they moved from Belton back to Groesbeck to take care of her elderly parents and remained in Groesbeck until her children insisted she move back to Belton to be nearer them in the past few years, due to her health. Jo was an active member of the Church of Christ in Groesbeck, and worked many years on the food committee organizing and serving meals served at the church building. She also spent many volunteer hours at the Park Plaza Nursing Home, where she attended her uncle, and served on the resident council, supporting all the activities there even when in bad health. She was active in the Belton Church of Christ after moving back to Belton, and was the Valentine Queen at the nursing home for 2009-2010. She loved reading her Bible, and in her spare time, she loved reading mysteries. Jo was well known for her loving smile and encouragement to others and willingness to help out with activities. She had many friends everywhere she lived. She still showed her independent spirit, pointing her finger at the family and quoting “I am Captain of my Ship”, a message she reminded them of until her last breath. The family will remember her as an amazing mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, always concerned for each and every one of them. Jo was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Garven Allen, who passed away in 1988, beloved uncle, Buck McClendon, and her son, Jerry Wayne Allen, Sr., who passed away in 2009. She is survived by a daughter, Jeanne Chapman of Belton; son, Larry Allen of Merced, California; daughter, Linda Cruz of Belton; and daughter, Pamela Nichols of Belton. There are seventeen grandchildren, and numerous great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren; two sisters, Gwen Lammons of Groesbeck, and Marie Harris of Donie; and a host of friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials may be made to Scott and White Hospice (2401 S. 31st. St., Temple, TX 76508), or Groesbeck Church of Christ (203 S. Ellis, Groesbeck, TX 76642),or Belton Church of Christ (3003 N. Main, Belton, TX 76513.)