Betsy Allen

Betsy Lee Allen – loving and dedicated wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother - passed away peacefully on December 17, 2020 at Benton House in Grayson, GA, from complications due to Alzheimer's. She was 86. Betsy was born Elizabeth Lee Macey in Newton, MA on July 26, 1934, the only child of the late Henry and Eleanore Macey. When she was young the family moved to Binghamton, NY. Betsy disliked being an only child; she longed for the company of siblings as playmates, and her most fervent desire was to marry and raise a large family. In 1956 she married Thomas Alois Allen, also from Binghamton. They spent the early part of their married life in Gulf Shores, AL, where Tom was stationed in the Navy, then moved to Clearwater, FL in 1958. They eventually settled in Largo, where they raised 5 children in a vibrant Catholic neighborhood with many other large families near St. Patrick church. Though Betsy worked as a medical lab technician for much of her adult life, her real love and passion was her family. She was happiest with family gathered around her; the more, the merrier! Betsy was a wonderful cook and provided a warm and welcoming atmosphere at home. She was also very active outside the home; singing in the church choir, volunteering as a Guardian Ad Litem, and with PFLAG. She loved to travel, and most memorable were family vacations to Binghamton, the Smokey Mountains, New England, and other destinations to visit friends and family, or weekend camping trips to Rainbow River. Later she would visit her grown children and their families, take trips to Europe with the church choir, and travel to other destinations as far away as Hawaii and Australia. Given how Betsy loved to travel, we're pretty sure she'll enjoy this last journey, to the realm of the angels. Betsy is survived by her husband Tom, her five children and their spouses: Jeff Allen and wife Lynn, of Miami; Lisa Hartlage and husband Scott, of Grayson, GA; Timothy Allen and husband Philip Hamilton, of Westminster, VT; Mike Allen and wife Mary Helen, of Clover, SC; and Beth Allen, of Ottawa, ON. She is also survived by six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the Benton House caregivers and staff, who took such loving care of Betsy during her last years, and especially during the last few months with the added stress of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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