JAMES EDWARD ALLEN, age 73, a resident of Charleston died at 9:38 p.m. Saturday, January 30, 2010, at the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.

He was born January 3, 1937 in McClellan, AR to the late Len C. and Edna L. Woods Allen. Prior to moving to Charleston in 1976, he lived in St. Louis where he worked in construction hanging drywall and painting for the O.B. Voorhees Company. He was a former member of District Council #2 Local 46 and of Baptist faith.

On January 18, 1957 he married Barbara Jean Nolen who survives of the home.

Also surviving are his son, James Edward Allen Jr. of St. Charles; four daughters and three sons in law, Theresa J. and Kevin Garrison of Benton, Terri Cross of Charleston; Evelyn and William McWhirter of East Prairie, and Barbi and Leo McElrath IV of Cape Girardeau; one brother and sister in law, Sam L. and Betty Allen of Crestwood; two sisters and one brother in law, Katie Green of St. Louis, and Mildred and Leroy Lester of Edgerton, KS; 12 grandchildren, and 20 great grandchildren.

One grandson, one great granddaughter, one brother and five sisters preceded him in death.

Visitation will be at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 after 10:00 a.m. until the funeral hour at 1:00 p.m. Rev. Gerald Penn, pastor of the Assembly of God Church in Charleston, will officiate.

Interment will follow in the IOOF Cemetery under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, Anthony Allen, Kenneth Allen, Joel Pfaff, James Robert Allen, Michael Johnson, and nephews, Dwayne Taylor,and Danny Marshall.