Mary Frances Allen

Mary Frances Ashton Allen, 79, of Asheville, peacefully went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, October 26, 2013, at Memorial Mission Hospital following a brief illness. Born May 6, 1934, in Asheville, she was the daughter of the late Charles Miller Ashton and Martha Redmon Ashton. She attended Haw Creek Elementary School and Biltmore High School. She was employed by Kearfott Guidance and Navigation for over 30 years. She was a member of Azalea Church of God in Oteen and was a beautiful reflection of Christ to all who were privileged to know her. Her passions in life were her husband, her family, her dog Missy, and her flower garden. She is survived by her husband, James Howard Allen, the love of her life for 61 years. Also surviving are her four daughters, Cynthia Gay Allen, Deborah Ogle (husband, Mark Ogle), Pamela Kay Fuertes (husband Anthony Fuertes), and Paula Rene Hudson (husband Jeffrey Hudson), all of Asheville; grandchildren, Crystal Rene Dodd Gasperson, Jason Lee Dodd, Amber Joy Anderson, Mark Jordan Ogle, James Anthony Fuertes, John Paul Knighten, and Randa Leigh Glenn; great-grandchildren, Laurel Ashton Kohutek, Isaiah Andrew Gasperson, Sarah Grace Gasperson, Bishop Anderson, Maya Michelle Harrison, Marjorie Ogle, Jason Riley Ray Dodd, Faith Rene Knighten, Madalyn Hope Knighten, Hannah Peek, and Robert Hunter Rathbone. She is also survived by two brothers, Jim Ashton of Tennessee and Bobby Miller Ashton of Florida, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was loved very much by her family and friends and will be dearly missed. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at Azalea Church of God with the Rev. Larry T. Wilson officiating. Burial will follow at Skyview Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be made to Azalea Church of God, 20 Moffitt Branch Road, Asheville, NC 28805. Groce Funeral Home on Tunnel Road is assisting the family.