Marie Yolanda Allen

Marie was born in Los Angeles, California to Albert and Cipriana Westbrook of Eastchester, New York.

She worked for over fifty years as a Registered Nurse with over thirty at Loma Linda University Hospital in intensive Care Cardiology. Marie was privileged to assist on the world’s first heart transplant operation there. When Marie moved to Walla Walla she worked as director of nurses at the Odd Fellows Home.
In May of 1980 Marie married her “Prince” Stephen Leon Allen. Marie and Stephen spent three years in San Francisco; they also spent time traveling in Europe as well as spending time in Australia.

As her loving husband of thirty seven and one half years I would like to say a word or two about Marie. Her nickname as a young girl was “Smiley” and it was an appropriate one indeed. Where ever she went she led with her smile. In fact she told me the once, on one of her nursing jobs a fellow co-worker came up to and ask her is was on something, as it wasn’t natural to be smiling and happy all the time. Well, let me assure you with Marie that, that smile and friendly outgoing personality she came by naturally without the help of any artificial substances. When we would go out dancing she was always going from table to table and getting to know everyone in the room. Marie was nothing less than the genuine article; and those whom did not have a chance to meet her missed out on, someone that comes along once in a lifetime. To think that I not only had the chance to meet Marie, but to have had the honor of her accepting me as her husband makes me feel like the luckiest man ever. She will never be out of my thoughts for even one second for the rest of my life. She was the love of my life, my loving wife, Marie.

Marie is survived by her husband Stephen, her son George, and daughter Lee, as well as may grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Marie was the first in her family to take up a career in Nursing, but, as of now, there are ten nurses in the family, her son being the first to follow in her footsteps. Now, even some of her grandchildren are nurses as well.

Marie wished to be cremated and that no memorial service be held. Her smiling nature would not want any sad faces; but, instead she would like all to maybe just offer up a toast and a joke or two; but remember, no tears allowed.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Blue Mountain Heart to Heart, Pflag, ACLU, Planned Parenthood, the Walla Walla Symphony or the Little Theater; all causes dear to Marie’s heart, through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder Walla Walla, WA.

The following poem is from Marie, as she was a prolific writer of both prose and poetry.

Farewell to loved ones far and near. Farewell to friends that I have enjoyed, I never meant to leave a void.
Farewell dear town I have loved so much, you change all those whose lives you touch.
The beauty of your rolling hills, the wheatfield’s ripe with grain, will, no doubt, encourage the stranger to remain.
I will miss the theater and the arts, and the Symphony, whose sounds I hope will never end.
The shops, the restaurants, the nights of dancing, and all of the smiling face. Oh, I so will miss those lovely places.
Farewell my friends and my town.
Marie Allen