Karen Kay Allen

Karen Kay Allen, 80, of Lake Park, GA, passed away on Thursday, February 24, 2022. She was born on August 3, 1941, to the late Everett Bettin and Gertrude Ziegman Bettin. Mrs. Allen grew up in Early, IA, and graduated from Crestland High School in 1959. She moved to Des Moines, IA, to work for a telephone company. She met Delno Allen on a double date, and they were married on June 12, 1959, in Des Moines. They travelled some before moving to Waycross and then on to Jacksonville in 1963, they then moved to Orlando in 1969. In 1974, they moved back to Jacksonville, and then to Statenville in 1976. She started working for the John H. Harland printing company and continued with them until the plant closed in Valdosta in 1983. Mrs. Allen worked various other jobs including for a bookstore until 1998, when a foot injury prevented it. Having grown up as an only child, she loved the big family gatherings provided by her husband’s large family as well as her own. She was an excellent cook and an avid reader. Mrs. Allen will be dearly missed by all her extended family and friends.
Mrs. Allen is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Del, Jr. and Julie Allen, of Lake Park; son, Andy Allen, of Lake Park; daughter and son-in-law, Kay and Rudy Whitehead, of Lake Park; her grandchildren, Garrett and Cari Allen of Valdosta, Kelsie Allen, of Lake Park, Katie Whitehead (Ryan) Chamberlain, of Valdosta, Tripp (Loria) Whitehead, of Valdosta; her great grandchildren, Brianna, Gavin, and Brody Whitehead, Bryce and Wyatt Allen, and a great grandchild on the way, Carli Beth Allen; a sister-in-law, Dot Ramos, of Pinetta, FL; and a special niece and nephew, Connie Hart and Ricky Ramos. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband Delno Allen, Sr.
A funeral service will be held at 3pm on Sunday, February 27, 2022 at McLane Lakewood Funeral Home with Rev. Brian Layton officiating. Burial will follow at Lake Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 2-3pm. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. McLane Lakewood Funeral Home