Betty A. (Courtright) Knicely Allen
Betty A. (Courtright) Knicely Allen, age 90, passed away on Aug. 22, 2018 at the home of her son, Robert L. Knicely.
Betty was born on Oct. 23, 1927, in Coshocton County to the late Jay E. and Dorothy (Smailes) Courtright. She grew up in Conesville and graduated in 1945 from Conesville High School. She married her High School sweetheart, R. Wayne Knicely, on Dec. 24, 1945 at New Hope Lutheran Church in Adamsville. She and Wayne shared 19 years of marriage before he was tragically killed in an automobile accident on Mar. 4, 1965. Betty and Wayne had two children, Robert L. “Bob” (Mary) Knicely and Carol J. (Lynn) Mikesell.
Betty was an awesome mother and had to take over the roles of both mom and dad following Wayne’s death. With the help of her Lord and Savior, she did just that. She was an Avon Representative, Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade teacher’s aide, as well as Sunday school teacher, VBS teacher, choir member, and church treasurer. She was a caring friend who always listened, a great pie baker and homemade noodle maker. She also chauffeured a lot of children around besides her own and always was the mom whose house was always open to the kids who wanted to play and eat. She was a true servant of the Lord, looking after widows and people who were down on their luck; she even invited them to her family’s Christmas Eve dinners.
In 1973, Betty married James L. “Jim” Allen, who passed away on Dec. 30, 2013, and took on a second family. She helped Jim raise three of his four children. Betty is survived by her step-children: Charles L. “Chuck” (Theresa) Allen, Janie (Brad) Sarchet, Lisa (Brian) Davis, and Christopher (Tina) Allen; 15 grandchildren: Kurt (Jenn) Knicely, Kyle (Kaylie) Knicely, Kristy (Jason) McCormick, Keri Knicely, Jodi Hedrick (Jim) Nash, Jon Hedrick, Joel and Joe Sarchet, Chloe (Zach) Hess, Carly (Roger) Bishop, Cassie (Sean) Varady, and Sarah, Rachel, Luke, and Leah Allen; one sister, Marilyn Dawson, 11 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Along with her two late husbands, Betty is preceded in death by her granddaughter, Amber Renee Johnson, and her sister, Joan C. Guthrie.
Calling hours for Betty will be held at Given-Dawson-Paisley Funeral Home on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018 from 5-7 p.m. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Monday, Aug. 27, 2018 at 11 a.m. with Pastor Dale Parrish officiating. Burial will follow at South Lawn Cemetery.
The family extends a special thanks to all the folks at Community Hospice for making Betty’s last hours more pleasant, and to Debbie and Susan (two of Betty’s nieces) for all of their help in the past few weeks.
For those who wish, memorial donations in Betty’s name can be made to Prairie Chapel UMC at 45494 CR 23, Coshocton, OH 43812.
An online memorial can be viewed at www.given-dawson-paisleyfh.com
Category: Obituaries