Obituary, The Oklahoman, September 22, 2002 Mary Ellen Allen died Thursday, September 19, 2002, in Oklahoma City after a lengthy illness. Mary Ellen was born on March 28, 1919, to Edna (Niemeyer) and Edgar Gossage in Pierce City, Missouri. She attended Oklahoma City University and graduated with a degree in Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma. In 1944, Mary Ellen worked for Pratt Whitney assembling airplanes for the war effort. While working at the Daily Oklahoman, she met William Martin Allen, and they were married on December 28, 1946 in Kansas City. Mary Ellen and William lived and raised their three sons in Oklahoma City. Mary Ellen was never happier than when she was doing things for her family and friends. She loved to sew, making many of her own clothes, and she was a wonderful cook. She also enjoyed Saturday night dances with her husband at the Young Mens' Club and monthly meetings of her Book Club. With her sons in college, Mary Ellen returned to the workplace, spending four years at General American Life Insurance and 10 years at the Oklahoma Wildlife Commission. Her later years were spent happily with William, and included frequent visits from her children and grandchildren.

William preceded Mary Ellen in death last year. She is survived by her son Robert Stephen and daughter-in-law Amanda of Austin, Texas; her son David William and daughter-in-law Brooke of Carrollton, Texas, and, her son John Barry of Oklahoma City. Her grandchildren include Jason Todd, Brian William and his wife Tara, and Emily Elizabeth (Austin) and Whitney Paige and Taylor Martin (Carrollton). Services will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday at Guardian West Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Burial Park. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or to Hospice of Oklahoma City. The Family will greet friends at the funeral home Sunday 6:00-8:00 p.m. Guardian West Funeral Directors.