Juanita Jewell Allen, the daughter of Burnie and Lola (Whitaker) Cantrell, born on July 19, 1932, in Hutchinson, Kansas. She departed this life November 3, 2024, in Portland, Oregon, at the age of 92.
Juanita was born in Hutchinson, Kansas, and raised mainly in Niangua, Missouri. Juanita was raised going to church at Pleasant Hill Freewill Baptist Church where she professed her faith in Christ, and was baptized as a teenager. She graduated from Niangua High School in 1949. After graduation, she began working for a department store as a buyer for the women’s department. She then moved to Wichita, Kansas, where she became a telephone operator.
On January 29, 1956, she was united in marriage to Lynn Taylor Allen in Wichita, Kansas. Into this union, one son and one daughter were born. In 1957, they moved to Leadville, Colorado, where their son, Rex, was born on April 26, 1960. In 1962, they moved to Troutdale, Oregon, where their daughter, Joyce, was born on July 7, 1964.
While living in Oregon, Juanita was the bookkeeper for her husband’s landscaping business for 30 years and also worked in hotel management for 5 years. Juanita and her family enjoyed camping and fishing. She loved life, and time spent with family and friends brought her great joy and happiness.
Besides her parents, Juanita was preceded in death by Lynn, her husband of 36 years; daughter, Joyce Dawson; grand-daughter, Alyssa Dawson; and her brothers, Donald and Samuel Cantrell.
She is survived by one son, Rex Lynn Allen of Wood Village, Oregon; three granddaughters, Jillian Bellmer, Amanda Frasco, and Laurel Miller; one great-granddaughter, Meya Bellmer; one great-grandson, Hunter Bellmer; and a host of cherished relatives and many beloved friends.
Juanita was a loving, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She is cherished and will be greatly missed by all who have had her in their lives.
