I should have written this tribute a few weeks ago. But, somehow, whenever I began, my tears started to flow. I could not see the screen. I would give up, but knew I needed to write something.
Jean Allen was one of my first friends in Gainesville. I knew about her a while before I moved to Gainesville. I had been teaching at Winona in Shannon County. We made the decision to move when Nina was about two. We found a place to buy in Ozark County and prepared to relocate. Before I left, I had an appointment with my hairdresser in Winona. I told her of our plans. She stepped back and said, in a half-joking voice..."Well, those people stole our Jeannie away from us! Never will forgive that Allen guy who took her with him.!" She mentioned that I might find the much loved girl working at the local lumberyard, right downtown in that distant place called Gainesville.
Jeannie was a quiet person. She spoke softly. She did not want to call attention to herself. I am sure she is probably looking over my shoulder this minute as I write, narrowing those eyes and making a playful grimace as she watches me type.
Jean was my go-to confident. We shared so many wonderful times, there in the back of the flower shop. She would stop working on the arrangement she was making, pull up a stool, and I would unburden myself to her. She would agree, or disagree with me. We would share various solutions, or lament the fact that there was no solution. I don't know whether I ever really thanked her for listening to me....but she didn't fail to welcome me back to visit again.
A worker in the background. Hardly ever noticed she was there. But, oh boy, we missed her when she went on vacation. Fishing in Canada, fishing up at the lake. Things tended to go undone...waiting for her to return.
We were in Sunday School together for years. First in the all women's class, then in the older adult class, Bible Study, evening Bible Study. I still remember Jean and I agreeing that the unit about the Book of Revelation made us more confused than we were to begin with. But we smiled and agreed that whatever the Lord had in mind....we wouldn't argue with His plan for us.
Strong in her faith. That was Jean. We shared so much that helped each of us along our path.
The other day I watched a church member carrying the candles from our church altar to the kitchen. They had run out of oil. When Jean was in charge...they never failed to be filled.
Flowers that she always took care of, taking on committee duties both in the community and elsewhere, volunteering at The Center, the Historium, .... the list goes on and on.
The last time I talked to her...about two weeks before she passed away, I told her about visiting the graveyard at Falling Spring in Shannon County. I remarked that I had seen the stone with Cap Brawley's name on it. She shared with me several years ago that she had helped with research for the cemetery where some of her kin are buried. Brawley was her maiden name.
I am certain that when she entered Heaven, everyone shouted...."Thank you Lord. At last Jeannie is here. She'll fit right in"....An angel. A helper. My friend. Rest in Peace sweet Jeannie. Until we meet again.
