Anne Allen

Allen, Anne 8/23/1982 - 8/3/2022 Dallas, Texas Anne Irene Allen. Age 39. Dallas, Texas. Tuesday, August 3, 2022. "Though you had to let go of this world to find peace, we hold on to your memory in our hearts, so you live forever. Talk about them. Be proud of them. Losing a courageous battle doesn't make you weak." To her friends, Anne was their biggest cheerleader and biggest supporter. Her early years in Kalamazoo were filled with fun times at Camp Eberhart, playing sports, studying at The Gagie School, running a cable TV talk show, and as a 4.0-student at Loy Norrix High School. She earned her degree at the University of Michigan, and a law degree from John Marshall Law School (now University of Illinois-Chicago), where she focused on Lawyering for the Performing Arts. Anne wanted to make movies. She was a producer on her favorite movie "Mickey Matson & the Copperhead Treasure" filmed in Michigan. She went on to Hollywood and produced other films there. She also volunteered at the Los Angeles Prosecutor Office and at a firm defending criminal cases. In 2015, she suffered multiple spinal fractures in a catastrophic fall from a zip line. Excellent doctors preserved her ability to walk, but severe pain continued. It did not prevent her from entering private law practice in Dallas, Texas, where she focused on personal injury cases and helped others who had suffered grave injuries. She also volunteered at centers for women who were survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Anne's soul was that of an artist. She created many paintings, drawings, and greeting cards as gifts to friends and family. Anne loved paint and glitter, sparkles and color. More recent years found Anne troubled by Clinical Depression, that ultimately, despite her great efforts, became Treatment Resistant. Anne is survived by her father John Allen, her mother Karen Allen in Kalamazoo, her brother Thomas Allen, a lawyer in Kalamazoo, and her sister Margaret Hope Allen now a lawyer in Singapore with her husband Mike and their daughter Hope, as well as Mike's sons Jonathan and Michael. She is also survived by John's wife Kyle Keiser and Anne's "bonus" family, Kyle's daughter Sterling Riethman (and husband Sam Riethman, and sons Griffin and Duke) in Kalamazoo, and Kyle's son Cameron Keiser (and wife Jillian and daughters Evelyn, Nora, and son Merritt) in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. And a large host of other family uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends. And a very special Aunt Marian Allen in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. An informal and casual Gathering focused on celebrating Anne's life will be on Friday, September 9, 2022, at 6:30 pm at Kalamazoo Country Club, 1609 Whites Road, Kalamazoo 49008. All are welcome and encouraged to dress in bright colors, sparkles, and sequins. Memorial Donations may be made to: YMCA Camp Eberhart (https://campeberhart.ymcagm.org/give/endowment) Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (KIA) (https://kiarts.org/join-give/give/) The Art Institute of Dallas (https://www.artinstitutes.edu/dallas/) National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) (https://www.nami.org/About-NAMI/Donate-to-NAMI) -to achieve a better understanding and acceptance of Clinical Depression and its treatment. "Sometimes, we believe we are doing great and important things. But the kids are all that really matter. Everything else is just details."