Sara "Bunny" Turner Allen

Sara “Bunny” Allen, 83, peacefully passed away in Cornville, Arizona on her favorite day of the year, Christmas Eve, December 24, 2023, with family nearby and surrounded by love. She was born in Tennessee to Leven and Sarah Keith Turner. She grew up on Lookout Mountain with her sister Barbara. Bunny graduated from GPS (Girls’ Preparatory School) in 1958. Bunny attended Vanderbilt University where she met and married the love of her life, William “Bill” H. Allen, Jr., and they enjoyed 62 years of marriage. Bunny graduated from Ole Miss in Oxford, MS in 1963. She and Bill moved to Tucson, Arizona where she fell in love with the Sonoran Desert. After several cross country moves for work – Beltsville, Maryland; Ames, Iowa; and Rolla, Missouri – they returned to her beloved Arizona for good.

Bunny was an accomplished musician and pianist, but her passion was playing handbells. She mentored many ringers throughout her 35 years of playing. She played for many decades in several choirs, including the annual Christmas Concert at the Desert Botanical Garden with the St. Matthew’s Methodist Church ringers.

Bunny was always busy sewing, cross stitching, tatting, knitting, crocheting, quilting and doing crewel work—often as gifts for friends and family. Her favorite was her hand-quilting group that meet weekly for over 20 years with her dear friends at University Presbyterian Church in Tempe, Arizona. The Arizona desert and all its wildlife, plants and history captivated her. Once time allowed, she took classes and volunteered with the Arizona Site Steward Program to protect historic petroglyphs within Arizona. Eventually she was assigned her own site to protect and later received an award for keeping it safe from defacing and vandalism. During this time, she was out hiking with fellow site stewards four times a week to check on other protected sites all over the state, and she culminated her service as Site Steward of the Year.

Bunny was best known as a kind and gentle lady who made time to listen to others. People from all walks of life were drawn to her. Her gift of listening, compassionate nature, and caring made her an extraordinary person to all of us.

Bunny is survived by her two daughters Sara Allen Johnson (David Johnson) and Karen Allen; nine grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; and her niece and nephew Elizabeth Long Qualey and Robert Long. She was predeceased by her husband Bill Allen, her sister Barbara Long, and her three children, Lori, Alyssa, and Mark.

Bunny’s Celebration of Life Service will be held on March 16th at 2pm at University Presbyterian Church, 139 E Alameda Dr, Tempe, AZ 85282. Memorial donations may be made to Montlure Camp at Montlure.org. 

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