DRESDEN – Mary Louise (Emery) Allen, 92, of Dresden, passed away on Oct. 21, 2023, at Augusta Center for Health and Rehabilitation in Augusta. She was born in Gardiner on March 31, 1931.

She graduated from Gardiner Area High School in 1949. She married the love of her life, Elton Wilbur Allen, in 1951. Since Elton served nearly 25 years in the United States Air Force, they traveled around the country and even spent four years in Germany. Together they raised four children and proudly claim 13 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Mary loved cats and doted on all of them in her long lifetime. In her younger years, she enjoyed gardening, going for walks with Elton, and making sequin calendars for her children for Christmas. Mary enjoyed summer barbeques surrounded by many family members.

Mary is predeceased by her parents, Florence Mae (Rich) and Harold Winfield Emery; and her sister, Janis (Emery) Harriman.

She is survived by her loving husband of 72 years, Elton Allen of Dresden; children, Jackie (Allen) and Chris Reed of Clearfield, Utah; Jim and Rachel (Quirion) Allen of Denver, Colorado; Linda (Allen) and Jake Maschino of Chelsea; and Andy and Kristen (Lennon) Allen of Blackstone, Massachusetts; as well as grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephew, and great-nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express sincere gratitude to the staff at the Augusta Center for Health and Rehabilitation in Augusta for the excellent and kind care they provided Mary in the last few months of her life.

There will be no funeral or visiting hours. A private burial service will be held at the Maine Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Augusta. 

Arrangements are entrusted with Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, Maine. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website, http://www.staplesfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your local Humane Society.