Garold Allen

Garold Ernest Allen was born May 11, 1927 to Lester and Nettie (Heisz) on a farm northeast of Formoso, Kansas. Later his family moved to a farm south of Belleville for several years. Once again they made another move to a farm on the Republican River northeast of Webber, Kansas. In early 1935 Garold's family moved to the family farm northwest of Courtland where his father continued to farm until retiring and moving into Courtland. Shortly after their move off the river, the flood of 35 took their house where they previously lived. They still had some of their machinery there which was lost due to the flooding waters. After moving back to the Courtland area, Garold attended John Brown country school just up the road and then attended high school in Courtland graduating with the Class of 1945. Following graduation he lived in Wichita for about a year working at a packing plant. That didn't last long before moving back to Courtland where he continued farming with his father and partnered in a cattle operation with Lloyd Emery. In 1946 he met a girl in Belleville. Her name was Betty Hess and in the fall of 1950 on October 8 they were joined in marriage. Garold continued to farm and refereed basketball with John Blackburn and went with a harvesting crew for a couple of summers. Garold and Betty bought a place north of Courtland and made it their home. In 1966 a son Michael came along and about a year or so later, daughter Michelle. Garold served on the Coop elevator board as a director for several years in the 1960s. He was a member of the Courtland United Methodist Church and was very active in the community. He enjoyed college ballgames and loved going to the casinos sometimes twice a week. In 1990 Garold retired and he and Betty moved to Courtland. Garold passed from this life in the early morning hours of Sunday, April 8, 2012 at the Republic County Hospital, Belleville, Kansas surrounded by those who loved him. He will be forever remembered by his wife of 61 years Betty of their home; son Michael of Courtland; daughter Michele Hudson and husband Brad of Wichita; grandchildren Sharla Taylor, Astoria, OR, Crystal (Earl) Dustin, Belleville, Craig Henderson an friend Liz, Courtland; great grandchildren Dunstan, Gabriel and Kamilee Taylor and Kash Henderson; sister Gladys Olson, Smithville, MO; brother Ronald Allen, Courtland; sister-in-law Rita Allen, Courtland; many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws, sister Arletha Thurber, brother Louis Wayne, and two year old Cayden Dunstan; also aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends. Garold never had any enemies and will be greatly missed by all who knew him and loved him.