Obituary of Kenley Allen

Coffeyville - Carl Kenley Allen, 88, of Liberty, dies August 21, 2013, at 3:00 a.m. at his home. Mr. Allen was born November 9, 1924, in rural Cherryvale, the eldest son of Carl Kelso and Bea (Reardon) Allen, growing up in a family of nine children. After graduating from Morehead High School in 1942, Kenley worked the family farm and was a civilian employee at the Cherryvale Army Air Base during WW II. On June 3, 1945 he married Norma Dell Dougherty of rural Thayer, KS. Their first home was in Coffeyville and they stayed there until they purchased their existing home in Liberty in 1946. At that time, Kenley started driving a truck for and managed Allen Brothers Truck Line. In 1952, he purchased Allen's Grocery and Station in Liberty and operated it until 1964. 1964 saw Kenley return to school in Bolivar, MO where he attended Southwest Baptist College. He then graduated from Coffeyville Community College in 1966, and Pittsburg State University in 1968. Kenley taught across the Coffeyville USD 445 school district at Whittier, Liberty, Clymore, and Dearing schools from 1969 until his retirement in 1986. To paraphrase a quote from Albert Einstein "He didn't just teach his pupils. He provided the conditions in which they could learn." He also gave to his community. Kenley was a Liberty City Councilman from 1953 to 1969 and Mayor from 1969 to 1999. He was Scout Master of Liberty Troop #92 from 1958 to 1962. He was a father figure to more than just the Allen kids. Kenley was preceded in death by by one daughter, Linda Kay Allen; two grandsons, Jeffrey Ross and Nakia Sanders; and one great-granddaughter, Parker Ann Allen. He is survived by his wife, Norma of the home; his daughter, Karleen Ross; three sons and their wives, Gary and Lorraine Allen, Kelso and Debbie Allen, and Kenley and Janice Allen; ten grandchildren, Tim Ross, Linda Arnold, Jess Allen, Erin Cook, Natalie Jeffries, Robert Sanders, Jared Allen, Takesta Smith, Matt Stembridge, and Chris Stembridge; eighteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and special cousins, Jerry and Suzie Meyer. A Graveside Memorial Service Celebrating Kenley's life will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 24, 2013 at the Liberty Cemetery in Liberty, KS. Friends may sign the register book on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville. The family suggests memorials to the Liberty United Methodist Church, or Mercy Hospice; contributions may be left with the funeral home, or mailed c/o David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 North Cline Road, Coffeyville, KS 67337.