Mary Allen

On January 3, 2022 Kathy Allen, age 75, of Catonsville, MD has clicked her ruby slippers together one last time to be with our Lord because there is no place like home.

Kathy was born on March 27, 1946 to Clifford Golden and Betty Anne Lawrence in Denver, Colorado. Kathy is survived by her beloved husband of 54 years, Sam Allen; son Matthew Allen and daughter-in-law Cheryl Allen and daughter Paige Gilmore and son-in-law Jay Gilmore; siblings Dianne and husband Bobby Browning, Susan George, and Michael Golden; grandchildren Avery Medlar, Noah Allen, Sage Allen, Logan Gilmore, Jack Gilmore, Christopher Gilmore and Gracie Allen.  Since living in Maryland, Kathy made a best friend who became family, Liz Diffenbaugh. Kathy was predeceased by her son Christopher Allen in 2008 by suicide. In his memory, please say a kind word to someone today -kindness is a gift we can give for free to everyone.

Kathy attended nursing school in Nebraska which is when a friend sent her on a blind date. It was that blind date where she met an Air Force officer who would change her life. They went on a blind date where they both lied about their backgrounds thinking they would never see each other again, but after 54 years of marriage, their love still shines.

Sam’s job took them to Maryland where they went on to raise their family, make lifelong friends, join a church community, and so much more. Kathy’s work as a psychiatric nurse brought her so much joy.  She began her career working first with children and adults with intellectual disabilities, where she fell in love with a beautiful young girl Kenisha, which almost led to an adoption. She then began working with girls in the juvenile justice system that she would lovingly refer to as her “bad girls”, all the while enjoying every minute with them.

Kathy’s greatest joys were her grandchildren.  Every summer she planned a Grammy camp filled with arts, crafts and insects!

Although it was her Halloween tradition to dress up like the Wicked Witch (and boy didn't she have that cackle down pat); we ALL know that she was REALLY a Glenda (the good witch). Aside from her wizardly traits, Kathy also possessed an amazing amount of patience, grace, strength and selflessness ... If was rare when she had to unleash the flying monkeys and she NEVER had to drop a house on anyone (that we know of), even on the detours of life when she was met with rotten apples.

“A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others”

― L. Frank Baum,

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 6th from 3-5 pm and 7-9 pm at Ambrose Funeral home in Arbutus, MD.  A service to celebrate her life will be held Friday, January 7th at 11:00am at Ambrose Funeral Home in Arbutus, MD.