Patsy “Pat” June (Suit) Allen died peacefully on October 1, 2023 at the age of 94 in her home at Cedarhurst Assisted Living in Des Peres.
Pat was born in Cushing, OK on August 10, 1929 to George and Lorraine “Peggy” Suit. She grew up in Ponca City, OK where her father was a geologist for Cities Service Oil Company. After graduating from Ponca City High School in 1947, Pat attended Oklahoma A&M, where she met and fell in love with William “Bill” Allen at a sorority/fraternity mixer. They began their 65-year marriage on November 22, 1950.
Pat was with Bill as he earned his degree from Perkins School of Theology at SMU, and she committed to the life of being an itinerant pastor’s wife in the United Methodist Church in Oklahoma. In those first years, they moved every year or two as was customary then, so their 4 children were each born in different towns across Oklahoma.
In 1969, Bill accepted a job as chaplain at the State [mental] Hospital in Farmington, MO, and he and Pat settled there to raise their family. A teacher by nature and by profession, Pat spent much of her life helping children with special needs. As with all things, her patience and love for her students was immense. Pat initially taught at the State Hospital and later began a long career teaching children with behavioral challenges in the Central R-3 Schools.
Pat was a faithful member of Memorial United Methodist Church in Farmington and was active in a variety of ministries there including United Methodist Women. Throughout her life, Pat suffered some major losses, including the death of her eldest daughter, Jolinda, in 1979. But she never allowed her own suffering to cause her to lose sight of the needs of others. Answering the call to serve, Pat volunteered for several organizations over the years. She and Bill delivered Meals on Wheels twice a week well into their 80s and Pat was still volunteering at the Farmington Ministerial Alliance Thrift Store until she was 90!
Pat and Bill enjoyed life together. They attended community gatherings and their children’s sports, music, and other events – usually holding hands. Pat could be seen at every tennis tournament sitting in her lawn chair on the sidelines rooting Bill on. They loved camping and traveling together. Their adventures took them to many places throughout the US and Europe.
In 2019 Pat moved to Kirkwood to be closer to her daughter. In her short time there, she became a beloved neighbor and friend to many. She walked her dog, Misty, daily and stopped to converse with others along the way. She knew everyone’s pets and children/grandchildren. She joined Kirkwood UMC and became a fixture in worship, the JOY Sunday school class, and the “Bad Girls” Bible study group.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents, George and Peggy; her husband, Bill; and her daughter, Jolinda. She is survived by her brother, Chris (Sally) Suit, of Norman, OK; son, Bill Allen, Jr. of Columbia, MO; son, Don Allen of Oklahoma City, OK; daughter, Lorri (Steve) Coates of Kirkwood, MO; granddaughter Emily (Sydney) Coates of Chicago, IL; and granddaughter, Katie Coates of Kirkwood, MO.
A visitation will be held on Monday, October 9 from 9:30-11:00 AM followed by a memorial service at 11:00 AM at Kirkwood United Methodist Church. Another visitation will be held in Farmington on Monday, October 9 from 4:00-7:00 PM at C.Z. Boyer & Son Funeral Home – Taylor Chapel. A graveside service and burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, October 10 at Knights of Pythias Cemetery in Farmington. Memorials in her memory may be made in her honor to: Kirkwood United Methodist Church, 201 W Adams Ave., Kirkwood, MO 63122; Memorial United Methodist Church, 425 North St., Farmington, MO 63640; or any other charity of your choice.