Jerry Allen

Jerry Dee Allen, 78, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., passed away Friday, March 1, 2013, at Chateau Girardeau.

He was born Sept. 5, 1934, in Jackson to Joe M. and Grace L. VanAmburg Allen.

Jerry was an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving from July 29, 1952, to Jan. 13, 1956. He and Bonnie Sue Newman were married Dec. 25, 1958. Theirs was a true lifelong love affair. Jerry was quite proud of his Bonnie Sue, and thoroughly enjoyed spoiling her.

Jerry and Bonnie resided many years in Sikeston, and Jerry worked 37 years as a lineman for Scott-New Madrid Electric Co-Op. They wintered 20 years in the Florida Keys before permanently moving to Lake Placid, Fla., in 2005. They returned to Missouri in September 2012.

Jerry was a member of Miner Baptist Church in Miner, Mo., and the Elks Lodge and American Legion, both in Lake Placid. He took pleasure in music and piddling with electronics, but enjoyed nothing more than being with his family.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Bonnie, of Jackson; three daughters, Sandy (Chris) Townsend of Ash Grove, Mo., and Dee (Randy) Seabaugh and Joanna (Brian) Gray, all of Jackson; nine grandchildren, Crissy (Justin) Cox and their children, Grace and Tennessee, of Eureka, Mo., Trey (Casey) White and his son Drew, of Greenbrier, Ark., Sierra, Taylor and Michael Townsend of Ash Grove, Cory Seabaugh, Casey (Jeremy) Meystedt and Brianna and Joseph Gray, all of Jackson; a brother, Jim (Carolyn) Allen of Sikeston; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, John, Bill and Don Allen; and a sister, Doris Duncan.

Friends may call from 4 p.m. until time of service Monday at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

A memorial service will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jim Matthews officiating. Interment will be private at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo.

For memorials, please consider Southeast Hospice.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.