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Thelma Allen

September 26, 2017
Kalamazoo, MI

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Thelma Ruth (Garrison) Allen, of Kalamazoo, MI Cote was born on October 6, 1921 in Comstock, MI and passed peacefully on September 26, 2017 at LifeCare Center of Plainwell, just a few days short of her 96th birthday. Thelma was the second of four children born to the late Roy and Eva (Burnett) Garrison. She loved music and when she was in her late teens, she played guitar and sang with her sister, Pauline, at local venues such as the Burdick Hotel and the State Theater. They were even invited to sing at the Grand Ole Opry in Chicago. Thelma was energetic and fun-loving and she knew how to make people laugh. She enjoyed being outdoors and always looked forward to having a garden, going for boat rides and camping near Lake Michigan. Thelma was a member of the Kalamazoo Free Methodist Church for 60 years and loved participating in the church choir. She was a dedicated employee at Brown Company for over 25 years and after her retirement, Thelma became involved in the Parchment senior activities and was responsible for orchestrating numerous successful parties and activities for the senior citizens. More than anything else, Thelma loved her family dearly! She was a dedicated mother and grandmother. She was very proud of all three of her children and their families and cherished her time with them. Thelma is preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Roy Garrison Jr., her sister, Pauline (Garrison) Carey, Rutherford, her daughter & son-in-law, Carolyn (Allen) & Ronald Hines, her son, John Allen and her grandson, Kirk Allen. She is survived by her sister, Frances (Garrison) Klooster, her daughter-in-law, Marilyn (Smith) Allen, her daughter & son-in-law, Jacquelynn (Cote) & Daniel Williams, six grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, one great, great grandson, nieces, nephews and cousins. A memorial service will be held for Thelma on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at 3:00 pm at the Kalamazoo Free Methodist Church, 931 W. Maple Street. Please wear something red in Thelma's honor. Memorials may be directed to the Kalamazoo Free Methodist Church or the Alzheimer's Association (https://www.alz.org/).