Mary Leatha Allen

Mary Leatha Allen of Ogden, Utah passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening, April 26, 2023.  She was 80 years old.  She was loved by all who knew her.  She was born in Ogden on January 7, 1943, to Jay and Leatha Bush.  She had three older brothers and an older sister.

Mary graduated from Ben Lomond High School in 1961 and attended Weber College.  She was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, and she met her sweetheart at the church.  She married Gayle L. Allen in the Manti Temple on September 5th, 1962.  She began working as a secretary at Hill Air Force Base until they welcomed their first son, Kenneth, and she became a full-time homemaker. They welcomed a second son, Garth, before moving to California for Gayle’s job with the Boy Scouts, and soon thereafter they welcomed a third son, Mason.

After a spell, they moved back to Ogden and Mary began working in elementary school libraries before starting her career with the Weber County Library system. This may help explain her love affair with books.  She started as a page and worked her way to an administrative position under the director, ordering books, doing accounting, and as a notary.  She retired from the library system in 2003 and began enjoying retirement.

She served in various callings in the church, including the primary and as the Stake Relief Society secretary.  She especially enjoyed service in assisting baptismal candidates with their clothing.

Mary was an avid reader.  It seemed like she was finishing a new novel every day.  To accompany her book reading, she loved cats and a good treat, like peanut M&Ms or chocolate chip cookies.  She enjoyed attending many plays and her Monday afternoon movies in which she would typically sneak in a chicken salad croissant sandwich.  She always looked forward to her weekly massage from her friend Debbie and the occasional motorcycle ride with Gayle.  Mary always enjoyed a good visit with her closest friends.  One of her greatest joys was her grandchildren, and while her health permitted, she relished the chance to attend baseball and football games, or dance recitals, or attend baptisms and blessings.  Mary was a sweet, loving, and compassionate friend and mother.  Even her boys’ friends would call her “mom” and she loved it.

Mary is survived by her husband, Gayle, her three boys, Ken Allen (Lorrie), Garth Allen (Edith), and Mason Allen (Jenifer), and her older brother Don.  She has eight grandchildren (Rylee, Jake, Derek, Tess, Savannah, Megan, Isaac, Eli), and one great granddaughter (Lila).

She was preceded in death by her parents, and her older siblings, Jay, Thomas, and Judy.

In celebration of her life there will be an open house on Friday, May 5^th from 9:30 - 10:00 and a formal service at 10 a.m. at the LDS Harrisville 6^th Ward Chapel - 113 Childs Ave. Ogden - All are welcome.

We are grateful for the grace of Jesus Christ and for the knowledge of the resurrection.  We cannot wait to be with Mary again!