Durelle L. Allen,

Funeral Services will be held at First Baptist Church on Thursday, October 3, 2013 at 11:00 am for Durelle Lee Allen,Sr. 95, who passed away on Monday September 30, 2013 at 6:43 am at Lafayette General Medical Center. Luther Burney, Assistant to the Pastor, of First Baptist Church and Dr. Steve Horn, Pastor, will conduct the funeral services. Burial will take place in Fountain Memorial Gardens. Mr. Allen, a resident of Lafayette, was the son of the late Hiram W. Allen and the former Rhoda Elizabeth Veazey. Durelle was born and raised in Linville, in rural North Louisiana during the Depression Era as the youngest of eleven children of Hiram and Lizzie Allen. He graduated from Louisiana State University in 1940 with a degree in Agriculture, becoming an agriculture teacher after college. Like so many others of his generation, he was proud to serve his country with honor in the US Army during World War II, serving in Europe and North Africa. Upon his return from the war, he married Dorothy Manasco who would be his wife of 67 years, raising his family of three children, Suzi, Durelle, Jr. and David. He began his career with the United States Social Security Administration and moved with his family to Lafayette, Louisiana in 1964, where he would retire as District Manager for the Lafayette District Office in 1984. He was glad to serve the Lord as a deacon and usher at First Baptist Church of Lafayette, where he made lifelong friends in his church family. He was known to many as the kindly gentleman who for years greeted churchgoers with a smile and a handshake before services. Durelle was a gentle and kind-hearted person who loved the outdoors and the simple pleasures of hunting, fishing and gardening. He was admired and respected by his co-workers at the Social Security Administration, and was nominated by them to be Boss of the Year in 1970. Later in life, he was deeply honored to travel to Washington, D.C. with Louisiana Honor Air with other of our beloved World War II veterans. He demonstrated his faith quietly, serving in his church all of his life and living his life in such a way that all who knew him understood his devotion to God, country and family. He was deeply loved by his family and he loved them in return, especially his two beautiful granddaughters, Emily and Natalie. He is survived by his wife of sixty seven years Dorothy Manasco Allen; his daughter, Suzi Allen Smith and husband Jerry; his son, Durelle L. Allen, Jr. and wife Laura and David Allen and his wife Tammy; his two granddaughters, Emily T. Allen, and Natalie A. Allen. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his ten brothers and sisters. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at First Baptist Church 1100 Lee Avenue Lafayette, LA 70501 on Thursday, October 3, 2013 from 9:00 am until time of services. The Allen family wishes to express their enduring gratitude to Durelle’s caregivers in the last few weeks, including the ladies from Senior Helpers, the doctors, nurses and staff at Lafayette General Hospital and St. Joseph Hospice, for their kindness, professionalism and compassion. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to The Alzheimer’s Association Louisiana Chapter, 3900 North Causeway Blvd. Suite 1200 Metairie, LA 70002. Personal condolences may be sent to the Allen family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Durelle L. Allen,

September 11, 1918 - September 30, 2013