Verna T. Allen

A native of Georgia, she was born in Hiawassee in a small log cabin.  She was the daughter of the late Robert Lee and Mary Jane
Tanner.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest H. Allen, who died in 1969, a daughter Katie Mae Clark, and sons John Franklin and Robert Charlie Allen.

She and her husband  and children moved from Georgia to a good life on the Biltmore Estate.  Three of their children were born while living there.  She was an excellent cook and was asked to prepare desserts for the Biltmore Estate lunchroom for a period of time.

She and her family attended several Christmas parties in the Biltmore House by invitation from Mr. and Mrs. John Cecil.

She was a member of the Biltmore Estate Home Demonstration Club and was the eldest member of
Gashes Creek Baptist Church.  She was an honest, loving, caring peacemaker who always placed the
needs of others above her own.

She is survived by four daughters, Martha Wolfe of Candler, Edna Siler of Arden, and Eleanor Edenfield and Mary Liner of Asheville; a son, William Ernest Allen of
Asheville;  thirteen grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

From a family of nine, she is survived by a sister, Robbie Thomas of Auburn, GA.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm Tuesday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Rev. Hilton Moore officiating.  Burial will be at Forest Lawn Memorial Park where she will be laid to rest beside her husband.

Her family will receive friends from 7 - 8:30 pm Monday at the
funeral home.