Gunta Licis Allen

Our beloved mother, sister and grandmother died on July 28, 2011 at the age of 70. Gunta was born on January 4, 1941 in Pampali, Latvia. She and her brother Ivars, with mother Izalija became refugees during the WWII conflict, immigrating to America from German Displaced Persons camp in December, 1950, eventually settling in Kalamazoo, MI. Gunta attended Kalamazoo Central High School, and later graduated from Western Michigan University and earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Wayne State in Detroit, MI. Gunta married Robert Andrew Allen in 1967. The couple made residence in Wethersfield, CT where their two children Elizabeth Margaret and Robert Andrew were born. In 1979, the Allen’s drove across the country and moved to Mercer Island, WA for her husband Bob’s job with Aetna, and where their children graduated Mercer Island High School and from the University of Washington. She worked outside the home at JC Penney in Bellevue Square for 23 years, which she loved (except during Christmas) because of the many friends she made there, who brought her so much joy and support over the years. She worked in luggage, because she loved to travel! She had some great overseas adventures to Italy, Portugal, Hawaii, the British Virgin Islands, and the continental US. She was widowed in 1993, and maintained her home and fantastic flower and vegetable garden, and welcomed grandchildren to pick her flowers and peas. Gunta was a wonderful mother and wife, and thoughtful and caring friend to many. She loved to be on the water, fishing, sailing, beachcombing and admiring sunsets. We will dearly miss her. She is survived by her brother Ivars Licis (Rabbit Hash, KY), daughter Elizabeth Margaret Weber (Bellevue, WA) and son Robert Andrew Allen (Kihei, HI), and grandchildren Callie Weber, Meghan Weber, Robert Andrew Allen III, Archer Kaimana Allen and Avey Makana Allen. A family memorial service is being planned in early October. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association in her name would be much appreciated. http://www.alz.org/join_the_cause_donate.asp Please visit http://bartonfuneral.com/2011/08/09/allen/ if you would like to share comments and view an expanded obituary.