Willard Allen

Services are scheduled at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, July 30, at First Baptist Church for Willard N. Allen, Artesia, New Mexico. Mr. Allen, 65, died Wednesday, July 27, 2005 in Lubbock, Texas. Pastor Peggy White will officiate at the services with burial at Woodbine Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Cody Allen, Shawn Allen, Tod Allen, Leonard Johnson, Tim Baize, Allen Wilbourn, Larry Parker, and Larry Thompson. Willard was born December 12, 1939 in Roswell, New Mexico; the son of Ned W. Allen and Inez Wright Allen. He grew up in Roswell and graduated from Roswell High School in 1958. He served in the United States Army from 1960 to 1964. On May 31, 1966 he was married to Nellie Gibson in Roswell. In 1971 he joined Allen Roofing Company, the family business. In 1977, Willard and Nellie moved to Artesia to open a branch office of Allen Roofing. Later, the company decided to consolidate offices and Willard continued to work in the Roswell office for the remainder of his career. Mr. Allen was an avid sportsman. He belonged to the Artesia Country Club and was a member of the Men's Golf Association. His father preceded him in death. Survivors include his wife Nellie Allen of the family home; mother Inez W. Allen of Roswell; a daughter Michelle Allen Patrick and husband Kelly of Farwell, Texas; a son Lance R. Allen and wife Samantha of Southern Pines, South Carolina; brothers Ardist Allen and Roy Allen both of Roswell, and Henry Allen of Carlsbad, N.M.; grandchildren Megan Patrick and Cheyenne Patrick of Farwell, and Madeline Allen of Southern Pines; and numerous nieces and nephews.