A Celebration of Life for Allene will be held on 10:00 a.m. Friday at the at the Criswell Funeral Home Chapel, Ada, Rev. Travis Muse will officiate. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery, Ada beside Kenneth.
Rilda Allene Cobb died peacefully at home on August 26, 2016 after a courageous battle against cancer. Allene was born on May 29, 1922 in Delight, Arkansas to Joseph Samuel and Mary Alice “Molly” Gurley. She was the third child of eleven children born to Sam and Molly Gurley. When Allene was a small girl her family moved to the Ada, OK area, and she grew up on several farms near Ada.
After graduation from Latta High School in 1939, Allene married Kenneth Vernon Cobb and they moved to a small house on the Lee Onn Cobb farm near Lightning Ridge north of Roff. There, Kenneth and Allene started their family. A son (Joseph Lee Onn) and a daughter (Charlotte Jean) were born on the Cobb farm in 1941 and 1944. The family moved to Ada in 1945, and Allene and Kenneth became lifelong residents of Ada.
Allene was a widely recognized expert seamstress, and for many years she created nice custom-made clothes for many people in the Ada area as well as for herself, her children, and her extended family members of all ages. After her children were older, she enjoyed working for a number of years at the Blue Bell clothing plant and in the fabric section of Wall’s Store in Ada. People frequently sought her knowledge and advice concerning fabric characteristics and best sewing techniques for various types of fabrics. Allene also enjoyed making beautiful quilts, and she taught many people how to quilt including her daughter in-law, Connie.
Allene had a lifelong passion for gardening, and over the years on the farm and in Ada she produced a multitude of pretty flowers and delicious fruits, vegetables, pecans, and melons until her failing health prevented her from working in her gardens and yards. Many family members, neighbors, and friends benefited greatly from her natural green-thumb gardening skills, abilities, and hard work. Certainly, she is now enjoying sewing dazzling white robes with golden thread and helping tend God’s heavenly flower gardens.
Allene and Kenneth were lifelong members of Asbury United Methodist Church in Ada from the time they first moved to Ada. They faithfully and actively served their Church in many capacities until their individual health failed. Allene especially loved working with young children at church functions.
Allene is survived by her son Joe Cobb (Connie) of Valparaiso, FL; her daughter Charlotte Cape of Tulsa, OK; grandsons Edward Cobb of Dayton, OH, Lewis Cobb of Niceville, FL, Bryan Howard of Oklahoma City, OK; granddaughter Kristin Schroeder (Tim) of Perryton, TX; and four great- grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Christine Lewis of Edmond, OK; and her brothers Sam Gurley Jr. of Ada, OK, Wendell Gurley (Treva June) of Ada, Floyd Gurley (Pat) of Ada, and Loyd Gurley (Mary) of Sulphur, OK. Allene was predeceased by her parents, her husband of 43 years, two sisters, three brothers, and one grandson.
Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to criswellfh.com.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
