Bernard Allen

Bernard L. Allen , 81, of Naylor, passed away on April 16, 2023, at SSM St. Clare Hospital in Fenton, Missouri surrounded by his family.

Bernard was born to Martin VB Allen and Lena Simmons Allen on Oct. 10, 1941 in Grafton, Illinois. He soon moved to Naylor where he remained for most of his life. He was a talented athlete in high school in basketball and baseball. He played baseball in college at Arkansas State University until an injury ended his career. He finished his education and graduated with a degree in Education. He then taught and coached at Naylor high school. This is where he met the love of his life Brenda Bratton and they were married May 23, 1967 in Nashville, Arkansas. He helped with getting the girls basketball program started. He was principal for two years in Van Buren before returning to Naylor. He earned his Specialist degree from Southeast Missouri State University and took the principal job in Naylor, which he held until he retired in 1995. Besides being a hardworking dedicated principal who spent his summers cleaning, painting, and building things to make his school a better place, he enjoyed golfing in the summer and taking his family on vacations. He umpired baseball for a little while. In his spare time he enjoyed learning a new instrument, in which he started with the banjo, and also learned the fiddle, guitar, mandolin and anything with a string, all without reading a note. He played bluegrass for years and several events in the area with his band Buzzard Run. So it’s fitting that the last thing he did on this earth was play music for others to enjoy. He was also a master craftsman and attained that status and was honored by the University of Missouri for his work in handcrafted fiddles and mandolins. Bernard also served as the mayor of Naylor from 2008 to about 2020

With all of his accomplishments the thing he was most proud of was his kids and grandkids. He traveled the state watching them play their favorite sports and activities.

Bernard is survived by his wife of 55 years, Brenda Bratton Allen of Naylor; his daughter, Alicia Allen Lange and husband, Eric, of Ashland, Missouri, and son, Maury Allen and wife Melissa of Columbia, Missouri; grandkids, Makayla Miller and husband Gannon of Okeechobee, Florida, Brock and Addison Lange of Ashland, and Bryson, Liza, Stella and Grey Allen of Columbia; one great-grandchild, Halia May Brown the light of his life; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Lena and Martin Allen, and his brothers Laverne, Clifford and Harold.

Visitation will be visitation time is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, April 20, 2023, at Fowler and Sons in Neelyville, Missouri, with the funeral service to follow at 2 p.m. in the chapel. Graveside service to follow at Naylor.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Bernard Allen memorial scholarship fund for Naylor high school students at Peoples Community Bank in Naylor. Checks can be made out to the Bernard Allen memorial scholarship fund.