Bessie Gladys Sutton Allen

Bessie Gladys Sutton Allen was born on Jan. 16, 1928, in Spokane to Gladys and Levi Sutton, and died in her home on Aug. 11, where she lived all of her 89 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, loving husband of 57 years, Amos Perry Allen, daughter Elizabeth Jane Allen Fitzgerald, son Floyd Gale Allen, baby Allen, sister and brother-in-law Mary (Sutton) and Glenn McFarland and granddaughter Megan Christina Allen.

She is survived by her sons, Perry Levi (Sue) Allen, Byron Sutton (Karyn) Allen, son-in-law Mike (Jane) Fitzgerald, grandchildren Anthony Justin Allen, Amanda Renee Allen (Kahel) Smith, Heidi Lee Borgens, Anna Marie Borgens (Sean) Kerr, Levi Don Allen, Kelly, Nick, Brenda Fitzgerald, great-grandchildren Khalissi Anagail and Dhazen Obsidien Smith, Brennan Isaac, Noah Ellwood, Oliver Shepherd and Grace Mae Kerr.

Bessie grew up on the Sutton family farm and attended school in Washtucna. After Bessie graduated from Washtucna High School, she attended Washington State College.

She met Amos before WWII when he moved out here and started working for Mary Richter and then Levi Sutton. Amos enlisted after Pearl Harbor and Bessie wrote to him throughout his years in the Navy.

They got married on Nov. 9, 1947, and spent the rest of their lives farming and raising their family on the Sutton family farm, which became the Allen family farm.

Bessie’s love for cooking started at an early age. When she was about 12 she started cooking for harvest, which lasted about 60 years and then Karyn joined her in the kitchen for a couple of harvests.

She then turned the job over when she knew it was in good hands.

She had a servant’s heart and was always involved in the lives of her children. She was a Cub Scout leader, a Girl Scout leader and lifetime member, Sunday school teacher and a teacher’s aide at the grade school.

She belonged to the Washtucna Community Church, Progressive Club and was a 73-year member of Rimrock Grange.

Bessie loved life to the fullest. She had many talents and interests that kept her busy throughout her lifetime.

From an early age, cats and dogs were always part of her life whether live ones or what ended up being a huge collection of over 200 cats in a variety of mediums, i.e. ceramic, porcelain, needlepoint, stuffed, etc.

She was such a creative person. She loved doing all kinds of crafts from painting, needlepoint, cross-stitch and knitting. She decorated much of her home with her handiwork.

Bessie also had a green thumb. She could make any indoor or outdoor plant grow. Bessie was always propagating some houseplant to increase her indoor jungle.

She was an avid gardener with roses being her favorite. She always had a vegetable garden.

She canned and froze what she could so she could feed her family through the long hard winter months.

But most of all Bessie was a child of God. Her faith sustained her throughout her life up until the very end.

Bessie’s memorial service will be Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. at the Washtucna Community Church followed by a potluck at Rimrock Grange hall.

Memorial donations suggestions are Washtucna Community Church, Rimrock Grange Hall or Assured Home Health and Hospice in Moses Lake.