Marie Chautin Allen, 82, of Arlington, died Sunday, November 9, 2008 at Townhall Estates. She was born April 28, 1926 in Arnaudville, Louisiana to Alex and Regina Badeaux Chautin.
During the Great Depression, she quit school to help her mother raise her two brothers and one sister.
Marie married Fred H. Allen in 1942. He became a drill instructor with the United States Army Airborne Division. Marie and Fred lived in various Army bases all over the United States, including Hawaii. Fred, Sr. retired from the military as a Sergeant Major on General Westmoreland’s staff after twenty-eight years in 1964. They settled in Batson, Texas on the Allen family farm.
Fred, Sr. predeceased Marie in 1980. After his death, she moved to Beaumont, where she worked for Murphy’s Department Store in Gaylynn Center from 1982 until the store closed in 1987. Marie was an expert in sewing, quilting, crocheting and knitting and became very popular, as her customers often came back for help with stitches and patterns. She also had a green thumb and enjoyed gardening.
Marie volunteered with St. Elizabeth’s Hospital as a “Pink Lady” volunteer and as a Eucharistic Minister for six years from 1990-96, earning 2350 volunteer hours. She lived at Hotel Beaumont for two years, then moved to Dallas in 2005 to be close to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her children, Fred H. Allen of Beaumont, Brenda Allen Rouse of Arlington, and Regina Allen Gilchriest of Georgetown; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Frank and Lenola Chautin, Lee and Shirley Chautin, and her sister, Laura Marks, and numerous nieces and nephews, all of Arnaudville, Louisiana.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 14, 2008 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Sour Lake with burial to follow at Guedry Cemetery in Batson, under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. A Rosary will be recited at 5:00 p.m. with a gathering of family and friends to follow on Thursday, November 13, 2008 at the Mortuary.
Memorial contributions may be made to MDA/RLS Research Fund, P.O. Box 272243, Houston, Texas 77277 or Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital, 2222 Welborn Street, Dallas, Texas 75219.
