Alta “Jane” Allen, age 86, of Springfield, Missouri, passed peacefully away on the evening of February 27, 2025, while receiving exceptional care and support from the wonderful staff at Cedarhurst of Springfield. Jane was born to Thomas and Oma (Lovelace) Holmes on March 28, 1938, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, a small town in Pottawatomie County located forty-five minutes east of Oklahoma City. Jane grew up in a large family and shared her life with twelve brothers and sisters: Tony, Tommy, Polly, L.V., J.C., Wilma, Dex, Acey, Steve, Carolyn, David, and Jim.

Jane’s parents worked as sharecroppers and traveled extensively during her childhood. It was during this formative time that Jane learned the values of hard work, perseverance, and servitude. Jane attended various schools and graduated from Pauls Valley (Oklahoma) High School in 1956. After high school, Jane moved to Oklahoma City where she worked several jobs and was briefly married to David Champeau. After their divorce, Jane moved from Norman, Oklahoma, back to Oklahoma City. It was during this time that Jane married the love of her life, Silas Edward Allen, on November 10, 1964, in Purcell, Oklahoma. The couple shared sixty years of marriage before Silas’s untimely passing on February 11, 2025. Jane and Silas were blessed with two loving daughters, Ky and Gayla.

After getting married, Jane and Silas moved to Springfield, where they would remain the rest of their lives. Jane held jobs at FASCO Industries in Ozark and Zenith Electronics in Springfield. During her ten years at Zenith, Jane worked on the management team as a production supervisor. After her departure from Zenith, Jane worked at Interstate Inn where she was given many duties and responsibilities. After ten years of distinguished service, Jane retired from Interstate Inn to spend more time with her family and friends.

During her retirement, Jane enjoyed spending time with Silas on their five-acre hobby farm in Fair Grove, Missouri. She especially enjoyed her time helping Silas build their dream home. On the farm, Jane liked to garden, can vegetables, and make clothing for her family. For fun, Jane had a passion for dancing, bowling, and traveling with Silas. The two traveled with their fifth wheel across the United States and Canada, even snow-birding for many years at Llano Grande RV Park in McAllen, Texas. Jane and Silas also enjoyed taking long road trips on their Honda Goldwing. They especially enjoyed their time in Colorado, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Fewer things brought Jane more joy and fulfillment than attending yearly family reunions, preparing for the holidays, and spending quality time with her family.

Jane will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Family and friends will remember her as an independent, strong-willed woman, who was fiercely loyal, worked hard, was always there for her loved ones. In the words of her daughter, “Mom was a force of nature who would do anything for her family.” Jane was especially proud of Silas, who honorably served as a Springfield police officer for twenty-seven years.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Oma Holmes; husband, Silas Allen; grandson, William David Smoot; three sisters, Polly Hudson, Wilma Wallace, and Carolyn Waddle; seven brothers: L.V. Holmes, J.C. Holmes, Tommy Holmes, Tony Holmes, Acey Holmes, Dex Holmes, Steve Holmes, David Holmes and his wife, She is survived by her daughter, Ky Kent and her husband, David; daughter, Gayla Hall and her husband, Jerry; granddaughter, Faith Dezwarte and her significant other, Charles Duffy; granddaughter, Shelena Larkin, great-grandson, Anakin Larkin; brother, Jim Holmes and his wife, Darlene; brother, David Holmes and his wife, Carol; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

A special Celebration of Life service will be held in Jane’s memory on Friday, March 28, 2025, 3:00 pm, at Greenlawn Funeral Home North in Springfield.

Arrangements are under the compassionate direction of Greenlawn Funeral Home North in Springfield, Missouri.