Ethel Allen

Ethel Elizabeth Allen

Ethel Elizabeth Allen, 94, passed away peacefully with her family by her side, leaving behind a legacy of faith, hard work, kindness, and unconditional love.

Ethel was born at home on October 8, 1931, to James Oscar Gransbury and Ada Marie (Wipf) Gransbury. She was an only child. On June 2, 1949, she married James M. Allen, and together they had three children.

Ethel was raised on the family farm, where she learned the value of hard work at a young age. She attended Locust Grove School through the eighth grade before graduating from Byron High School. She enjoyed riding horses and often spoke of riding horseback with her father to drive cattle that arrived by rail in Cherokee back to the family homestead.

She wasn’t afraid of hard work, spending countless hours fixing fence, hauling hay, working cattle, and caring for livestock. She milked cows for many years and sold the milk to Gold Spot Dairy. She helped care for acres of garden that provided food for her family and many others. She raised chickens and sold fresh eggs to the local community, cleaned ducks and geese for the Goose Ranch, and never hesitated to do whatever work needed to be done.

For many years, Ethel prepared tax returns for members of her community, a role she took pride in alongside the many responsibilities of farm life.

Ethel supported the Union Valley Church throughout the years. In her earlier years, she was active in the Fish Hatchery Extension Group. Later in life, one of her greatest passions was helping preserve the Locust Grove Schoolhouse. She enjoyed selling Rada Cutlery as a fundraiser to support the schoolhouse and took great pride in seeing the project succeed.

Even in her later years, Ethel enjoyed going out to feed the cattle. She was always up before the sun, and if you weren’t at the breakfast table by 5:30 a.m., you were late. She was famous for her homemade mulberry pies, and her grandchildren made sure they never lasted long.

Ethel was preceded in death by her parents, James Oscar Gransbury and Ada Marie (Wipf) Gransbury.

She is survived by her daughter, Ellen Knopf and husband, Gene, of Burlington, Oklahoma; son, Dave Allen and wife, Brenda, of Burlington, Oklahoma; and son, Dwaine Allen and wife, Julie, of Burlington, Oklahoma. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, John Kerfoot and wife, Ashley, of Coweta, Oklahoma; Christy Kerfoot-Tidwell and husband, Scott, of Cherokee, Oklahoma; Jaden Lewis and husband, Drake, of Burlington, Oklahoma; Danny Allen of Burlington, Oklahoma; and Amber Yandell and husband, Codey, of Bison, Oklahoma. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren.

Ethel loved spending time with her family, checking cows, and could often be found at the sale barn. She especially enjoyed spoiling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She rarely missed an opportunity to support her grandchildren in their many activities, milestones, and accomplishments, taking great pride in each of them. In her later years, nothing brought her more joy than spending time playing with her great-grandchildren and watching them grow. She will be remembered for her strong work ethic, kind heart, quiet strength, and unwavering love for her family. Her legacy lives on in the family she loved, the values she instilled, and the countless lives she touched.

Her family finds comfort in knowing she is now at peace, and her memory will forever be cherished by all who knew and loved her.

Funeral service for Ethel Allen will be Friday, August 7, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the Lanman Funeral Home Chapel in Cherokee. Burial will follow at Ware Cemetery near Byron. Visitation will be Thursday, August 6, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Arrangements are by Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. of Cherokee. www.lanmanfuneralhome.com Facebook: Lanman Funeral Home Inc.

Memorials may be made to Amorita-Byron Fire Department or Union Valley Church through the funeral home.