Jess Lee Allen

Jess L. Allen, Jr went home to be with his Heavenly Father on Saturday, September

23, 2023, at the age of 93 years.

Jess was born on August 17, 1930, in Miles, Texas. He was the only boy of nine

children, those eight sisters were each one special to him. He married the love of

his life, Vena Belle Ables on June 25, 1949, in Miles. He once took her to the

" Picture show" on a tractor. They were married for 74 years.

In 1951 Jess was drafted into the United States Army, 224th Infantry Regiment and

was eventually sent to South Korea. He served his country there in the Korean

War until 1953. In 1954, after returning from Korea, He and Belle moved to North

Reagan County where they lived in the old Stiles School House for several years.

He worked at Mac's Grocery in Big Lake as a butcher. After that he went to work

for Reagan County driving a maintainer. Jess and his father bought and cleared

land in North Reagan County where they farmed cotton. Jess and Bell eventually

moved from the old School House to the farm where they lived until moving to

Mertzon in December of 2011.

Jess and Belle were founding members of The Community Baptist Church where

he served as a deacon for many years.

Together, in that little farmhouse, they raised four children. Johnny, Linda, Lonnie,

and Kim. He loved his family endlessly. He not only shared his love with his

family, but he loved his neighbors and friends. He never met a stranger and was

famous for inviting anyone and everyone to come in and eat supper with the

family or just have a glass of tea. Thank goodness Belle could prepare for a family

of six or a crowd of ten at the drop of a hat. He always did his Christmas shopping

on Christmas Eve and made sure he bought an extra gift or two to share in case

someone extra joined the celebration. He will always be remembered for having a

loving, caring heart when it came to people.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, Jess Lee Allen, Sr and Jessie Bell

(Emert) Allen; six sisters, Opal Jones, Gladys Sturgill, Dorothy Cox, Ruby Faust,

Billie Reed and Betty Clifton; and his son-in-law, John Sanders.

He is survived by the love of his life, Belle; his two baby sisters, Wanda Jo Ables of

Denver City and Shirley Bruton and brother-in-law, Bert Bruton of San Angelo; a

host of nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly; his two sons and two

daughters, Johnny Allen and wife Correne of Blackwell; Linda Matthews and

husband Jimmy of Big Lake; Lonnie Allen and wife Carole of Blackwell; and Kim

Sanders of Shallowater; nine grandchildren; Brandon Allen and wife Brittany of

Midland, Michael Matthews and wife Natalie of Mertzon, Jill Fortenberry and

husband Michael of Big Lake, Julie Matthews and husband Claudio also of Big

Lake, Jennifer Furr and husband Ethan of Kent, Wade Allen and wife Shelby of Big

Spring, John Wesley Sanders and wife Marisa of Brownfield, and Zy and Julian

Sanders both of Shallowater; and 13 precious great-grandchildren with one more

on the way; Jaxton and Landry Allen, Ally and Macy Matthews, Jentry Fortenberry,

Allison, Josh, Brazos and Avery Sosa, Rylin, Whitley and Waylon Furr, Weston

Sanders and arriving in February 2024, Charlye Ann Allen.

Pallbearers include his grandsons, Brandon Allen, Michael Matthews, John Wesley

Sanders, Wade Allen, Zy Sanders and Julian Sanders.

Honorary Pallbearers include his grandson-in-laws, Michael Fortenberry, Claudio

Sosa, and Ethan Furr. Additional Honorary Pallbearers will be Joel Ham, Juan

Barajas, Bubba Akin, Ted Spence, Michael Schwertner, Danny Schwertner, Larry

Asbury, Larry Plumlee, Joe Phillips, and Eddie Joe Morton.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 28, 2023 from 3:00 to 6:00 PM at the First Baptist Church in Big Lake. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, September 29, 2023 at the First Baptist Church in Big Lake. Burial will follow at Stiles Cemetery.

The family wishes to thank the staff of The Reagan County Care Center for their

tremendous outpouring of love and care for our Daddy during his time there.

Memorials may be sent to the West Texas Boys Ranch and Sonrisas of San Angelo

or to The Irion County Food Pantry, P.O. Box 583, Mertzon, Texas 76941