WEST PARIS — Sylvia May (Drake) Allen, 81, of West Paris, went to be with Jesus, surrounded by her family Sunday, Nov. 19. She was born April 29, 1936, in Canton, the daughter of Henry and Ruby (Chamberlin) Drake Sr. She graduated from Livermore Falls High School, Class of 1954. After graduation she worked at the Livermore Falls Shoe Shop. Upon first seeing a certain young man from across the room, she said to her sister, “See that man? He’s going to be my husband.” She then married that man, Ashley Colby Allen. In a double ceremony, she and her sister, Emily, married brothers on March 31, 1955. They made a life in West Paris and raised their three children, “which they collected from under the cabbage plant.” Being a born-again Christian, she enjoyed reading her Bible and was a longtime member of the West Sumner Baptist Church, having joined in 1965 and worked in their Christian school for over 20 years. Sylvia enjoyed being crafty, dabbling in oil and pastel painting and, most recently, crocheting baby blankets. Along with their own grandchildren, Adam Keach, Amanda Keach, Anthony Keach, Shawn Coffin, Rebecca Cook, Daniel Hodgkins, Matthew Hodgkins, Sylvia and Ashley were known as Grammie and Grampa to many, many others.
She was predeceased by her parents, Henry and Ruby Drake Sr.; her sisters, Emily and Dawn DeEtta; and her husband, Ashley Allen. She is survived by her brother, Henry and his wife, Corrine; her brother, Glen and his wife, Sandra; her sister-in-law, Ethel Cross; her daughter, Barbara and her husband, Bill Keach; her son, Dennis Allen and his wife, Diane; her daughter, Dawnetta and her husband, Victor Hodgkins. The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Brittany Sullivan of Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice; Dr. James Eshleman, Sylvia’s doctor of 43 years; and the Rev. Rick Westcott and the Rev. Larry Thurlow. Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.
Sylvia M. Allen
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