Louis Allen

Louis Neil Allen, 85, of Hillsboro passed away Sunday, April 28, 2019, at Providence Hospice Place in Waco. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 3, 2019, at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors Chapel in Hillsboro with Dr. Alan Lane officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Garden of Memory near Hillsboro. Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at the funeral home.

Louis was born November 29, 1933, in the James Community near Peoria in Hill County, Texas, to Laura B. Vieregge Allen and William White Allen. He attended Crow School from grades one through six. When the state added the 12th grade, Louis was promoted to the third grade skipping the second grade. Crow School was a small country school near Whitney where the family lived. After the passing of his father, his mother was employed as a teacher in Blum where Louis attended grades seven through ten. He attended Hillsboro High School in grades 11 and 12, and then graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1951. In the fall of 1951, Louis enrolled in Baylor University.

He worked part time during the school year and full time each summer, but always said that without his mother and aunt (his mother’s sister, Pearlie Mae Vieregge), he could not have afforded college at all. He worked part time for Sears Roebuck & Company, Babcock Auto Supply, Hillsboro Monument Company, Hollywood Mfg. Company, and May Tire and Appliance Company during his college years, and once in a while for C. A. Dean Service Station.

In 1955 he graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He then enrolled in graduate school and in 1956 earned a Master of Science Degree from Baylor University. That fall, he was employed as a teacher and coach for Whitney High School. In 1961, he coached an undefeated junior high school football team for which he was very proud. Louis would become the Principal for Whitney High School in 1962. During the summer of 1967, he accepted a position as Director of Admissions and Registrar with Hill College. He later became Dean of Student Development, Executive Dean, and in 1992 a Vice President for the college’s campus in Cleburne, which later became the Johnson County Campus of Hill College. Allen was instrumental in helping Hill College and the people of Johnson County to get a full campus in Cleburne and added much enrollment for the college. After completing 40 years with the college, he retired in August of 2007.

Louis enlisted in the 873rd Engineer Battalion, 8th Core, 420th Brigade, U. S. Army Reserves in Waco in 1956. He served six years with this unit and finished as an Administrative Specialist E4 with a honorable discharge.

Louis and Nancy Lou Hoffman were united in marriage on August 11, 1961. They were the parents of three sons, Larry Neil, Garry Louis, and Terry William Allen. He and Nancy were divorced in 1994.

He married Juanell Jones in October 2000. Through the years, he was a part time rancher and continued as a rancher even after retirement and until his death. He enjoyed raising cattle, coastal bermuda grass and hay.

Louis was a member of First Baptist Church in Whitney, Hill County Historical Commission, Hill County Genealogical Society, and formerly a member of the Whitney Lions Club (when working in for the Whitney School District) . He was also a former member the Cleburne Rotary Club (while working there), Bosque County Rotary Club of Clifton (when working in that area), and former President of the Hillsboro Rotary Club. Louis had been a member of the Texas Community College Teacher’s Association and several higher education professional organizations. While working in Cleburne, he was a member of the Christian Business Club and Tuesday Forum.

He is survived by his wife, Juanell Allen; sons, Larry Neil Allen and wife, Teresa, Garry Louis Allen and wife, Cathy, and Terry William Allen and wife, Kasi; grandchildren, Joseph William Allen, Raechel Elizabeth Allen, Samantha Grace Allen, and Rebecca Ann Allen; step-daughters, Caren Harris and Sandra Hicks; step-son, Steven Jean; and numerous cousins and friends.

Visitation

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM ,Thursday, May 2, 2019
Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro
2495 Corsicana Highway Hillsboro, TX 76645

Funeral Service

10:00 AM ,Friday, May 3, 2019
Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro
2495 Corsicana Highway Hillsboro, TX 76645

Burial

Friday, May 3, 2019
Hillcrest Garden of Memory
3838 State Highway 22 Hillsboro, TX 76645