Ruth Irene Allen's Obituary
Irene (Winsett) Allen passed away Wednesday, May 6, 2026 in Broken Arrow. She was 97 years old. A Celebration of Irene's life will be held 11 AM Monday, May 11, 2026 in the Rivercrest Chapel. Irene will be laid to rest in the Bixby Cemetery. Viewing will be held from 3-5 PM Sunday, also in the Rivercrest Chapel.
Born December 30, 1928, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Irene was the daughter of James Phillip Winsett and Clarissa Myrtle Henry. She grew up in Bixby, where she attended Bixby High School and graduated valedictorian with the class of 1947. It was in Bixby that her life took root - and where she would spend her days surrounded by family, friends, and the community she loved.
Having grown up alongside one another in Bixby, Irene and John Junior Allen shared a bond that began long before it became a marriage. On November 21, 1947, they wed at the parsonage of the First United Methodist Church in Bixby, embarking on a life together that would span 66 years. Junior preceded her in death in 2013, leaving behind a legacy of devotion and partnership that Irene carried with her every day that followed.
Irene had a gift for the quiet joys in life. Among her greatest pleasures was fishing at Fort Gibson Lake, where crappie fishing was something of a family art form. Junior always knew exactly where to position the boat, and Irene - rod already casted before the anchor was ever set - was right there with him, ready and eager. She was a woman who didn't wait for the fish to come to her.
Irene had a well-known fear of water that her family came to cherish as one of her most endearing qualities. On trips to the lake, she could be found fully suited in her life jacket before the truck ever reached the water's edge. Her grandchildren fondly recall that bath time at Irene's house came with its own set of rules - no more than an inch of water, a bar of green Zest soap, and a wash rag. It was simply her way, and they loved her for it.
Quilting was another of Irene's enduring passions. For years, she was a faithful member of her church's quilting club, gathering every Thursday with her fellow members until her health made attendance no longer possible. Her hands were never idle, and her quilts carried warmth far beyond their stitching. She also enjoyed a lively game of Pitch, playing regularly with two neighboring couples - evenings filled with friendly competition and good company. Irene was a fan of the Chicago Cubs and Oklahoma Sooners tried and true. She loved the time she spent working at the election board. Irene also loved her Precious Moments and Thomas Kincaid collectibles.
As a mother, Irene was always present - genuinely, reliably present - whenever her children needed her. Whether cheering on her boys through their Cub Scout years or simply keeping the door open and the house welcoming, Irene made sure her children never had to wonder where to turn. She was the kind of mother whose house was the gathering place, and whose love was never in question.
Irene is survived by her three children: Larry, Keith and wife, Sid, and Laura; her grandchildren, Shelly, Scott and wife, Christi, Mike and wife, Jessica, Chris and wife, Courtney, Kim and husband, Aaron, and Brian; and her great-grandchildren, Kylee and husband, Eric, Raylynn and husband, Holden, Jade, Nick, Gavin, Emma, Payton, Camden, Caysen, Haylie, and Katlynn ; and her great-great grandchildren, Annabelle, Patrick, Jensen, Jasper, and Jace.
Irene was preceded in death by her husband, John Junior Allen; her parents; her brother, Ray Winsett; and her sister, Marie Ashlock.
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