Jesse Willard Allen

A true son of God, Jesse Willard Allen, went home to be with his Lord November 12, 2022 at 2:30 P.M. He was in the comfort of his home with family, just as he wanted.

What a welcome he surely received from his Lord and Saviour and his wife Bonnie’s loving arms.

Jesse was born April 25, 1934 in Jefferson County, IL, Elk Prairie Township to Willard and Beulah (Hall) Allen.

On March 29, 1951 in Pocahontas, Arkansas he married Bonnie May Presley. They were blessed with 53 years of marriage.

He attended the one room school, Roberson Grade School in Ina, IL. It was told he started at the age of four so his sister Juanita did not have to walk to school by herself.

Jesse pastored several Free Will Baptist Churches throughout Southern Illinois. Bonnie was so proud to be Jesse’s wife. She loved working beside him in their service to the Lord. She also loved working with him in the garden. There was much canning in their house.

Jesse worked at Vernois in Mount Vernon, IL for seventeen years. After leaving Vernois he went to work at Freeman United Orient #6 in Waltonville, IL until his retirement in 1997. When Jesse was a little boy it was his dream to be a mechanic in the coal mine just like his Dad was in the Nason coal mine in Nason, IL. He was able to fulfill that dream.

Jesse was preceded in death by his loving wife Bonnie, his parents, sister Juanita, three brothers Gale, Jerry and Charley.

He is survived by his son Leon and wife Melana, daughter Kathie McCowen and husband David, three grandsons Chad, Stanley (Timesha) and Bryan, four great grandchildren, Nathan (Hailee), Kelsey, Jesse, and Jaice, three great-great grandchildren Brayden, Jackson, and Henley, two brothers Enos and Rex and one sister-in-law Virginia Allen, several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday November 19th at Mt. Vernon First Free Will Baptist Church with Pastor Craig Smith and Pastor David Shores officiating. Interment will be in Abner Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 P.M. Friday at the Mt. Vernon First Free Will Baptist Church.

For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.johnstonfuneralhome.com

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