Obituary
Evelyn Fleming Allen

Evelyn Fleming Allen passed peacefully at home on the morning of March 16, 2024, six weeks to the day after the passing of her husband of 67 years, Fred Allen. Their mutual devotion was evident to all who knew them – a love story to be continued in the next realm.

Evelyn and her twin sister, Ellen, divided their childhood between a sheep homestead in the Colorado Rockies and an oil town on the edge of California’s Death Valley, where their father served as the town’s barber. When the girls began high school, they returned to Grand Junction, Colorado where Evelyn played upright bass and Ellen played piano in a traveling dance band. Sadly, Ellen died in a car accident soon after their senior year, an event that impacted Evelyn for the rest of her life.

Evelyn met Fred Allen on the first day of freshman English at Colorado State University. After graduating with a degree in vocational home economics, Evelyn married Fred and started teaching junior high in Honolulu, Hawaii, where Fred was stationed with the Navy. When the couple returned to Southern Colorado, Evelyn continued teaching until their daughter, Cindy, was born. The couple lived in Colorado until 1974, when Fred’s job brought them to Raleigh, NC.

In Raleigh, the couple soon became active members of First Presbyterian Church and the Koinonia Class, where Evelyn became active in Circle and served two terms as Sunday school class president.

An avid volunteer, Evelyn became a Cadette Girl Scout leader long before her own daughter was old enough to join. Evelyn taught generations of 7th, 8th, and 9th grade girls to become strong, independent, self-assured women. Evelyn took her scouts white water rafting, as well as camping in the Great Sand Dunes and in the snowy Colorado mountains. She could pitch a tent, start a campfire, and cook a full birthday cake with nothing other than some tin foil and a few hot rocks – all without chipping her perfect manicure. She later served multiple terms on the Girl Scout Board of Directors, traveling across 20 counties in central North Carolina to establish and train local satellite boards.

Evelyn could sew anything. She made all of Cindy’s clothes, including matching outfits for Cindy’s favorite doll, Skipper. She did the same for her granddaughter, Hannah and Hannah’s American Girl doll, Josephina. When Cindy was in high school, she saw a fabulous designer prom dress in Saks 5th Avenue in New York. She sketched a picture of the dress on a napkin and brought it home to Evelyn. Evelyn created her own pattern and made a perfect replica of the dress. She made Cindy’s first interview suit – a fully lined wool gabardine tailored ensemble with French seams. At one point, she made custom satin band shirts and cumberbunds for every member of the Broughton High School marching band. (She also started the first Broughton Band Fruit sale – a fundraiser that still survives nearly fifty years on.)

Evelyn was loving and mischievous, with a dry wit that always took us by surprise coming from such a proper and elegant lady. She loved music, and hummed a tune throughout her day no matter what she might be doing. A devoted grandmother, Evelyn greeted her grandchildren before school each morning with a properly balanced breakfast, a Disney movie, and a game – often poker. And there were always, always chocolate chip cookies after school.

To the end of her life, Evelyn took joy in the small pleasures of life and in the love of her family. She never missed an opportunity to show the people she loved how she felt. Her smile was all-encompassing, and she was always smiling, even on her last day. We will miss her tremendously, but know that she has gone to be with Fred on their next great adventure.

Evelyn is survived by her daughter, Cynthia Allen Edwards; grandchildren James Austin Edwards and Hannah Edwards-Veaner (Allison); sister Eleanor Bush (Ron); and brothers, Sam Fowler (Sue) and Barry Fowler (Sharon). Evelyn was preceded in death by her twin sister, Ellen Fleming; mother, Josephine Evangeline Lutkiewicz Fleming Hansen (Fred); father, Clarence Carlton Fleming (Dorothy); and her beloved husband of 67 years, James “Fred” Allen.

Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church https://fpcraleigh.org/give/ or Girl Scouts, North Carolina Coastal Pines https://www.nccoastalpines.org/en/support-us.html

You can find Fred's obituary at this link: https://www.cityofoakscremation.com/obituaries/2024-02-03-James-Allen

The family is planning a private memorial for late May.