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Lena May Howe, daughter of Gladys and Beryl Howe, was born on the Barby ranch near Knowles, Oklahoma, June 12, 1932. She passed away peacefully after an extended illness surrounded by family on her final journey to her heavenly home, November 20, 2025, Alamogordo, New Mexico.

As a young girl she attended school with many cousins living on the ranch. She talked of riding horses along with her brothers to school. She often talked about her favorite teacher, Mary Spurgean. They became good friends through the years. Lena May was very active in 4-H, holding office positions, and earned awards for her demonstration and sewing talents. She was an active member of the Rainbow for Girls.

While growing up on the ranch, Lena May helped her mother as she prepared meals for ranch hands. Her cousins were her close friends. While life was hard at times through the wars and depression, she along with her parents and brothers found ways to visit family and travel. She told a story as a young girl of the family travelling to Colorado to can peaches and the difficulty returning in their truck. They needed the fruit to bring back to the ranch. She talked often of visits to Beryl’s family in Texas and their life on the Texas range.

Lena May graduated from Beaver High School in Beaver, Oklahoma, in 1950 where she participated in band and choir. She later attended Panhandle A & M College in Goodwell, Oklahoma, then Oklahoma A & M, Stillwater, Oklahoma.

July 14, 1951, Lena May and Dearl Wayne Evans were united in marriage. As a young couple they lived where the jobs were, including Kansas, Wyoming, and Texas. Wyoming was their favorite. In 1959, Dearl graduated from Oklahoma A & M, in animal husbandry. In June, they welcomed a baby girl, Marqueleta. Dearl unexpectedly passed away in December of that year. 

Lena May and Marqueleta returned to Beaver to be near family. Dearl’s best friend, Alvin Wayne Allen, decided that year, she was the one and asked for her hand in marriage. They were married December 3, 1960, and travelled throughout Texas for their honeymoon. This December 3, they have been married 65 year. Later in 1960, they moved to a farm in Arapahoe that his family had “suitcase farmed,” and that’s where they stayed. In December 1961, they welcomed a baby boy, Kenneth Wayne, to their world. His arrival just happened to be during an extended snow event. Lena May and Alvin talked about how cold it was, and the challenge of keeping the house warm. Alvin also adopted Marqueleta as his daughter that year.

They often reminisced about their 50th anniversary celebration and rededication of their vows. They loved planning for this event and were blessed by the many family and friends attending. The memories and stories were extra special.

Lena May was blessed by the friends made in the communities. She was actively involved in the Arapahoe Better Homes Extension Club, Order of Eastern Star, United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, and the Arapahoe School Board. One honor she received, was the North Star award at the Colorado Extension Council State Conference in 1990.

For many years, Lena May led adult Sunday School class at church. Her desire to learn and understand God’s word led her to attend retreats or in-depth studies. Attending a retreat in Minnesota and the Walk to Emmeaus in Colorado were spiritual highlights.  She always had her Bible with her on travels and visits to family even as it wore out. Her notes in the margins include when certain scriptures were read at church or studied - even dates of baptisms, dear friends moving, births, and deaths. Lena May quietly shared her faith journey with others.

She leaned on her faith through many tough and happy times. Alvin shared how relieved she was to understand Revelations as she guided a study with other women. Church and faith were important to Lena May. She found joy in watching the youth grow in church, singing in the choir, and sharing with family and friends.

Throughout the years, Lena May found joy in learning and sharing her talents. Her many cross-stitched gifts are treasured and special for her. Sewing the many dresses and items for her family. She loved to find the beauty in floral arranging, photography, and painting.

Lena May especially enjoyed the many family reunions in Oklahoma at Christmas and in the summer with often 70 family attending. Celebrating her mother’s 90th birthday at the Ranch Headquarter’s centennial anniversary was special to her. Seeing and connecting with family was always a highlight for her. The numerous special occasions at the Allen Brother’s family get togethers were always extra special.

She loved to travel and planned many trips with the kids, and later with Alvin, her mother, and her brother. She enjoyed the adventure and loved sharing it. They especially loved their 25th anniversary to Hawaii, and later on RV trips to Florida, a vacation to England and Scotland, Alaska, and Canada highlighted by Heli hiking.

Lena May and Alvin Wayne moved to a Colorado Springs retirement center in November, 2011, and were happy in their new church home and community. They were excited to embark on the adventure even though it was hard to leave their home of 50 years. Throughout these years, Lena May emphatically said “We are One.”

Lena May is preceded in death by her parents, Beryl and Gladys Howe; brother, Barby Howe; brother, Roy Loo Howe; and sisters-in-law, Louise and May Belle; son-in-law, Robert Wall; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Lena May is survived by her husband, Alvin Wayne Allen of Alamogordo, New Mexico; brother-in-law, Leon Allen, Arapahoe; sister-in-law, Ruth Allen, Brighton; daughter, Marqueleta Wall, Manhattan, Kansas; son, Kenneth Allen (Judy), Alamogordo, New Mexico; grandchildren, Trenton Allen (Rhianna), Frederick, Maryland, Todd Garrison (Kristen) Denver, Dr. Jessica Burton and David Wheeler, Austin, Texas; Travis Wall, Ogden, Kansas, and Catherine Wall, Manhattan, Kansas; great-grandchildren, Mathias, Lylah and Gavin Allenk Wyatt, Amelia Garrison, and Robert Travis Wall; and, many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visitation will be November 30, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Cheyenne Wells

Funeral services will be December 1, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Wells of Faith Fellowship in Cheyenne Wells. Burial to follow 11:30 a.m. at the Arapahoe Cemetery in Arapahoe.

Arrangements are under the direction of Brown Funeral Home.