Funeral services for Mr. Robert Spencer "Spence" Allen, age 91 of Marion, LA, will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at First Baptist Church in Marion with Bro. Bubba Hoggatt and Bro. Glyn Nale officiating. Interment will follow at Roark Allen Cemetery under the direction of Farrar Funeral Home.

Spence spent many years telling us he was going to make it to one hundred years old, but in the end, he squeezed every drop worth living out in 91 years and made his way to Heaven to meet up with the love of his life, whose hand he will never stop holding.

Robert Spencer Allen, "Spence" to everyone he knew, was born on August 25, 1933 to Tyra H. and Ruth Allen, and peacefully took his last breaths on November 26, 2024, surrounded by the family he spent his lifetime building. Spence was born into the family with an older sister and two older brothers and later became a big brother to his baby sister, a role he cherished for his entire life. Spence was doted on by his mother from the start. A true "mama's boy," he was always in awe of her strength and resilience, and even named a beloved dog "Ruth Ann" in his later years as a way of keeping his mother close. Spence spent his childhood much like he did his adulthood- always busy. His favorite chore was working with the mules, most likely because they were as stubborn as he was. His mother used to retell the story of the time he couldn't get a calf to move like he needed and in his frustration, he picked up a stick and threw it, and it ended up hitting the animal in the head, accidentally killing the calf. Spence cried for days after that. He enjoyed horseback riding, was a talented ping pong player "with a spin no one could return," and an accomplished basketball player.

After graduating from Marion High School, Spence met Jane Turnage and couldn't wait to ask her out. Jane turned him down, not impressed by a boy she considered such a goofball. Undeterred, Spence enlisted in the United States Navy, and returned to ask Jane out again, this time sealing the question with a kiss. As Jane later told it, all she could think was "Wow!" and the goofball became a groom on March 3, 1954. They were stationed in Hawaii for 18 months and upon their return to Louisiana, he enrolled in Louisiana Tech University, later graduating with a degree in forestry. Spence and Jane welcomed four children, three daughters and a son. Following his love of forestry and the timber business, he owned the Marion Wood Company and Pine Hill Wood Company. He also started a sawmill, Union Timber Products, which created many jobs for the local economy. He was also a founding member of East Union Academy.

The class clown who never grew up, Spence spent his life cracking jokes and making people smile and laugh. Sometimes his jokes were at the expense of others, and if they couldn't laugh at themselves, he felt more encouraged to poke at them again! Many times his jokes were inappropriate and if he managed to make a blush appear on the cheeks of those listening, the smile on his face could not be contained! Humor was his connection to the world. Every person he met earned a nickname and he would never call them by anything but that name from then on! Seeing happiness and hearing laughter from those around him allowed him to stay a kid for nine decades, much to the delight of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The outdoors were his second home and he did his best to spend as much time outside as possible, rising before the sun, making breakfast in bed for his wife each morning for most of their lives, and then heading into the welcoming arms of each day. Whether it was tending to hundreds of thousands of chickens in his chicken houses, surveying and managing acres of timber and land, keeping cows fed and moved, or planting and minding a large garden, Spence poured his energy, sweat, and time into the earth, taking the rewards from his efforts and distributing them generously amongst family and friends. He loved taking buckets of fresh vegetables around town to give out to young families, old friends, and curious strangers. He always made sure to deliver veggies to the widows of former coworkers and friends as well. Of course, being Spence, he most liked to do this wearing a mask and wig or a cap with a fake pile of dog poop on the brim!

Spence will be joining many loved ones who passed before him, including parents Tyra H. and Ruth Allen, his wife of 68 years Jane Lee Turnage Allen, their son Robert Spencer "Rob" Allen, Jr., sister Milrene Ruple, brothers Bill Allen and John "Shorty" Hodge, granddaughter Rebekah Hensarling, and sons-in-law Gary Hensarling and Carl Lemoine. Left to cherish his memory and tell stories about him are his three daughters Kathy Hensarling, Karen Lemoine, and Laurie Ellis, grandchildren Krystal Procell (Brandon), Emily White (Andrew), Robert Lemoine (Summer), Billy Lemoine (Aliscia), Kassie Booker, Jacob Lemoine (Maranda), Chris, Josh, and Bethany Ellis, great-grandchildren Coy and Hadley Procell, Leo and Phoebe White, Alex, Makinsey, and Paul Lemoine, Jasper and Tucker Lemoine, Colby Neitz, Zoë and Zane Booker, Kinsley and Paisley Lemoine, Caden and Collin Ellis, Isabella Ellis, and Olivia Walker, as well as his much adored baby sister Melba "Meb" Allen Pouland, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers for the service will be Brandon Procell, Andrew White, Leo White, Robert Lemoine, Billy Lemoine, Jacob Lemoine, Josh Ellis, Zane Booker, Chris Lechwar, Mason Gilmore, and Danny Cain.

The family asks that you honor Spence's memory by remembering that it's a quick trip here on Earth, so use your time to make others laugh, be generous whenever possible, and don't take any of it too seriously.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Monday, December 2, 2024 at First Baptist Church and from 12:45 PM until the time of service, Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at the church.