of Little Rock,

March 22, 2018

Janet Merle Harris Allen, age 75, of Little Rock, Arkansas died March 22, 2018. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Jessie Claude Harris, a McDonnell Douglas Aircraft machinist and Elsie Merle Taylor Harris, a full-time homemaker. She was the second of five children.

In her first freshman semester at Ouachita Baptist College, she met Arthur Edwin Allen of Stuttgart, Arkansas. Due to family health issues she had to return home. She started medical technology training at Gradwohl Medical Technology School and graduated in 1966.

Lt. Allen, an Army ROTC student at Ouachita, served at Ft. Bliss, Texas and Vietnam. He returned from overseas and asked Miss Harris to marry him. They were married May 9, 1967 in Basil, Switzerland. Mrs. Allen finished a tour of duty with newly promoted Captain Allen in Darmstadt, Germany. During a second posting to Vietnam, Mrs. Allen resided in San Antonio, Texas and worked at Baxar County Hospital. Next they moved to Fort Lewis, Washington. During the stay there, their first son, Aric Eaton Allen was born. Their next moves were to Fort Sam Houston, Texas and then Fort Carson, Colorado where Mrs. Allen worked in the Fort Carson Hospital. Two more children were born; James Morgan Allen and Jennifer Anne Allen. After leaving the Army, the family moved to Mountain Home, Arkansas. Mr. Allen worked in Purchasing at the Baxter County Hospital and Mrs. Allen worked as a technologist in a reference medical laboratory. Mrs. Allen attended Twin Lakes Bible School for 3 years. She also served in children's church at a local church. A new job opportunity took Mrs. Allen to Newport, Arkansas. Again she was employed by the Newport Hospital. After 2 years, the family moved to Little Rock where she got a position at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). She worked there until her retirement in 2008. During their time in Little Rock their son, Aric went in painting business for himself, James earned a degree in Business and Spanish, and Jennifer earned her degree in Medical Technology. In the years following retirement, Mrs. Allen and her husband enjoyed attending church, being around family, and traveling.

Mrs Allen is survived by her husband of 50 years, Arthur Edwin Allen; her children: Aric Eaton Allen (Tabitha) and their children, Arica Elizabeth Allen, Aric Ethan Allen, Ashley Terry, Sara Ann Wood, and Justin Douglas Wood; James Morgan Allen (Laura) and their children, Diego Benjamin Allen and Abigail Kayla Allen; and Jennifer Anne Allen (Joshua) and their children, Holt Griffin Johannes and Violet Sutton Johannes; and her siblings, Claude Ronald Harris, Michael Harris, Edward Harris, and Tina Mrcele Harris who all live in the St. Louis, Missouri area.

Gathering of family and friends will be held at 7:00 P.M., Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Roller-Chenal Funeral home, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Arkansas (501) 224-8300.

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