Letha Mae Sykes Allen

Letha Mae Sykes Allen passed away at the age of 97, on March 3, 2024.  She was born in Chattanooga, Oklahoma on February 7, 1927, and was the fourth of ten siblings.  After graduating from college, she began teaching in Southside, Oklahoma and later in Rocky, Oklahoma where she met her husband James Wesley Allen.  They moved their family to Odessa in 1956 where she spent the rest of her life. James and Letha were married for fifty-nine years before his death in 2010.  Letha was a lifelong Methodist and was a member of the First United Methodist Church.  Letha loved raising her kids, cooking, reading, studying the bible, traveling with James, and her quilting, crochet, and embroidery.  She spent her final years at The Parks Senior Living center where she enjoyed the expansive views out of her house and her many new friends.  Letha and James raised four children and had eleven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.  

She is survived by her sister, Audry Ann Winkler; her son, David Allen; daughter, Gail Lewis and husband Mark; daughter, Debra Lewis and husband Dan; and son, Wesley Allen and wife Kasey.  Her grandchildren, Ginger Stewart (Rob), Melissa Cooper (Nathan), Tia Ferguson (Tom), Daniel Lewis (Courtney), William Allen (Nicole), Emily Allen, James Allen, Katie Ferguson, Emily Ferguson, Savannah Wagner-Garnica (Donnie) and Nash Cantwell;  her great grandchildren, Hunter Allen, Kale Cooper, Leah Allen, Ryann Stewart, Calla Cooper, Graham Stewart, Lincoln Lewis, Leighton Lewis, and Olive Wagner-Garnica.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Teri Shaver for your love and care and to the staff at Parks Senior Living Center for their care and service to Letha.  

A Celebration of Life will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens and Funeral home on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 3:00 PM.

  In lieu of flowers, the family request that any donations be made to The First United Methodist Church of Odessa.