Byrtie Jean Allen, 94, of Eldora, passed away peacefully at home in her sleep on January 24, 2024, just 11 days before her 95th birthday.
She was born to Lee and Mildred Ellison in Knoxville, Iowa in 1929 where she spent her childhood and graduated from high school in 1946. Byrtie’s first and last jobs were working at the movie theater. The first was in Knoxville. The last at the Grand Theatre in Eldora where she was a longtime volunteer and recipient of the Grand Theatre lifetime volunteer award which she received in her 80s.
Byrtie loved being a wife and mother, flowers, birds, spending time with her church family, keeping in touch with lifelong friends, calling each of her kids every weekend, writing in her diary every night and sharing banana bread with anyone who came to her house.
Byrtie was preceded in death by her parents, multiple siblings and most recently her husband, Floyd. She is survived by her son, Steve (Violeta) Allen, Knoxville, Ia., daughter Lee Ann Coria (Craig-deceased), Emory, Tx., son David (Kimberly) Allen, Des Moines, Ia. She was also blessed with eight grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.
A public Celebration of Life will be held in late spring @ Christian Fellowship Church in Eldora, Iowa, date to be announced. Memorial contributions may be sent to the church in her name.
We will have a Private interment at Graceland Cemetery, Knoxville, Iowa at a later date.
