Elizabeth Mae “Betty” Allen, 99, of Festus died Oct. 11, 2025, at Crystal Oaks Nursing Center in Crystal City. Mrs. Allen was a longtime member of Lebanon Baptist Church of Bloomsdale, where she enjoyed teaching the Wee Beginners Sunday School pre-kindergarten class. She enjoyed being a snowbird, spending winters in Florida with her husband and spending time with her family. Born July 17, 1926, in Plattin, she was the daughter of the late Nellie Fay (Miller) and William Alvin Courtney.
She was preceded in death by her husband: Cecil Ideal “Alabama” Allen.
She is survived by a son: Billy (Cheryl) Allen of Jefferson City; a daughter: Judith (Gary) Myers of Festus; two sisters: Carol Faye (the late Henry) Chason of Plant City, Fla., and Patricia “Diane” (the late Bill) Tindall of Festus; eight grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren and one more on the way; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She also was preceded in death by a son: James Earl (Mary survives of Festus) Allen; four brothers: Hugh M. Courtney, William Alvin Courtney Jr., David Lee (the late Virginia) Courtney and Frank Ray (the late Jamie) Courtney; and two sisters: Helen Marie (the late Lamar) Spear and infant Nellie Fay Courtney.
Visitation is scheduled from 4:30 p.m. until funeral services at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus, officiated by Brother Matt Culbertson, Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Festus. Burial will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, in the National Cemetery at Jefferson Barracks. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.