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 & Willie Clemmie Victoria (Mize) Mays.

Allen served as an electrician in the U. S. Navy during the Korean War and then received his Bachelors Degree in Education from Southeast Missouri State University and then attended Peabody at Vanderbilt in Nashville where he obtained his Masters Degree in Education.  He was an administrator in the Sikeston Public School 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 & 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 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 April 13, 1998.   He also had a special lady friend, Eula Martindale, who died in 2010.

He is survived by 2 daughters & one son-in-law:  Sara Turner of Kelso;  and Heather & Rob Young  of Wichita, Kansas;  Five grandchildren who he loved so dearly, Frannie Turner, Jamie Turner, Dottie Turner, Molly Claire Mays and Zeke Young; and 1 sister, Mozelle Hager of Sikeston.

He was preceded in death by his son, Glen Allen Mays, on June 26, 2008; his siblings, Otho Mays, Terry Mays, Wesley Mays, Carl Mays, Bessie Mays, Linnie Mays, Rachel Hulsey, 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 pm.  Funeral services will be at 10:30 am Monday at Blanchard Funeral Chapel with Rev. Tom Bass officiating.  Burial will follow, with full military honors, at Memorial Park Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Rob Young, Alex Jackson, David Turner, Reggie Hulsey, Charles Harper and Steve Gastler.   Online condolences may be shared with the family at blanchardfuneral.com.