Allen Mays

SIKESTON — Allen H. Mays, 88, died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, at West Ridge Place Assisted Living in Sikeston. 

He was born Jan. 6, 1931, in Red Oak, Oklahoma, to the late William Jesse and Willie Clemmie Victoria Mays. Allen served as an electrician in the U. S. Navy during the Korean War and then received his bachelor’s degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University and attended Peabody at Vanderbilt in Nashville where he obtained his master’s degree in education. He was an administrator in the Sikeston Public Schools system for over 32 years. He taught at Airport Elementary School and was  principal at Southeast Elementary from the time it opened until his retirement in 1990.

He loved the outdoors and enjoyed fishing and hunting. He had a beautiful garden and loved to share with others. He loved God and was a Methodist all his life.

He married Frances Harper on Aug. 27, 1955, and she preceded him in death Jan. 27, 1986. He then married in 1989 to Sherma Higgerson of New Madrid, and she preceded him in death on April 13, 1998. He also had a special lady friend, Eula Martindale, who died in 2010.

He is survived by two daughters and one son-in-law, Sara Turner of Kelso, and Heather and Rob Young of Wichita, Kansas; five grandchildren who he loved dearly, Frannie Turner, Jamie Turner, Dottie Turner, Molly Claire Mays and Zeke Young; and one sister, Mozelle Hager of Sikeston.

He was preceded in death by his son, Glen Allen Mays, on June 26, 2008; siblings, Carl Mays, Ortho Mays, Terry Mays, Wesley Mays, Bessie Mays, Linnie Mays, Rachel Hulsey and Velma Walker; and a dear brother-in-law, Theodore "Bud" Hager.

Visitation will be at Blanchard Funeral Chapel, Sunday, Aug. 11, from 5 until 8 p.m. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Blanchard Funeral Chapel.  The Rev. Tom Bass will officiate.

Burial with full military honors will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. 

Online condolences may be shared with the family at blancharfuneral.com. 

Paid obituary