Rollie Fowler Allen Jr.

Abbeville- Rollie F. Allen, Jr. of Carencro, La. went home to his Lord and Savior on Monday, November 13, 2023. He battled with COPD for 14 years, determined to live as full a life as he could. And he did.

Rollie was born on September 8, 1940, in Newellton, La., to Rollie F. Allen, Sr. and Bonnie Redwine Allen, both of Olla, Arkansas. He grew up in St. Joseph, La., surrounded by family and friends. After high school graduation, he attended Louisiana College and Northeastern State University, now UL Monroe. He began his sales career in food distribution as a young man and worked for various companies, moving into management in his later career. He was an excellent salesman and received many awards during his long career. He retired in 2019, at age 79, from Coastal Foods in Carencro, La. as the Logistics Manager.

During that career, Rollie moved to Lafayette in 1969 with his wife Harley "Dinky" Petty Allen and their two young children, Paula and John "Jay". He continued his career, which led to transfers and more moves. After a divorce, he married Connie Cormier. With that marriage he gained a stepson, Michael Frederick. After more career moves and transfers, they settled in Lafayette. He was an active member of Asbury United Methodist Church for many years.

Following Connie's death in 2008, Rollie became active in the life of his church Northwood United Methodist in Lafayette. He served in many capacities, including Chairman of the Board, and Prayer Advocate for the Louisiana Annual Conference. He became a Certified Lay Speaker and filled pulpits as a guest speaker for churches around Louisiana. He discerned his calling as a prayer warrior and answered that call in several ways. He led the Wednesday night Upper Room Prayer Center at Northwood where he and several others answered live calls and prayed for callers and their needs.

He did this for 8 years, only missing 2 nights in all those years - one because of a hurricane and one because the lines were down in Nashville, from where the calls were received. He and his team prayed for over 4,000 prayer needs for those 8 years. When the Upper Room decided to drop the live calls and go online only, Rollie sent letters advocating to keep the lines open as many of the callers were advanced in age and didn't use computers. He and Scott Sutton started the Friday morning Men's Prayer Group, known as PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens) about 13 years ago and it is still going strong. He taught an Adult Sunday School class for several years and was successful in reorganizing a choir at Northwood. This year, as he struggled with his health and was not always able to go to church, he looked for ways to serve from home. He began a phone ministry, calling others who could not always go to church and praying for them. He was awarded Christian Man of the Year by the United Methodist Men of Northwood UMC.

In 2014 he married Cindy Doucet, a fellow member of Northwood UMC. He gained two stepsons, Lucas (Julie) and Micah (Sonal), as well as 6 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Together Rollie and Cindy enjoyed an active church life as well as many (mis)adventures on their trips to Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Arizona, Alaska, and many more. During COVID, they took day trips around Louisiana, learning more about their own state. He was also an avid reader, and gifted researcher.

Rollie is survived and will be greatly missed by his wife, Cindy Doucet Allen; his children Paula Matherne Prejean (Allan), John "Jay" Allen (Kim), and Michael Frederick (Shawne); as well as his 7 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; sisters, Dianna Wood Gipson, and Leanne Allen Bounds (Steve); one brother, Trey Allen; many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.

He was predeceased by his parents; his 2nd wife, Connie Allen; 1st wife, Harley "Dinky" Lanerie; granddaughter, Sarah Allen; son-in-law, Byron Matherne, Sr.; stepsister, Kay Allen Atkinson; other family members and friends. There is joy in Heaven as they celebrate a great reunion!

Special thanks to the nurses at Ochsner Lafayette General Hospital and LTAC at Ochsner Orthopedic Hospital for their care. Also special thanks to Brittany and Anastasia of Heart of Hospice for their care during his last weeks.

Visitation and Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, Nov. 18, from 10:00 a.m. to time of service at 2:00 pm, at Vincent Funeral Home, 209 S. Saint Charles Street, Abbeville, La. Interment will be at St. Paul Cemetery in Abbeville. Pallbearers are John “Jay" Allen, Shannon Wood, and grandsons, Byron Matherne, Jr., Christian, Damien and Connor Frederick. Honorary pallbearers are Michael Frederick, Allan Prejean, Rev. Wayne Howington, Scott Sutton, Mack Dumesnil, David Speer, Gary Mayeaux, Chris Burch and Chris Gaspard.