Sondra Marie (Pettis) Allen

Sondra Marie Pettis Allen, a beacon of love, compassion, and unwavering dedication, entered her heavenly home on December 31, 2023, after a two-month battle with a rare form of blood cancer. Born on August 14, 1946, in Columbus, Georgia, to Leroy Pettis and Mae Marie (Jensen) Pettis, Sondra was their first child, marking the beginning of a life destined to touch countless hearts.

Sondra's life was a testament to selflessness and boundless generosity. Her legacy lives on through her cherished survivors: her loving husband, David Allen; her devoted daughter, Kasey Marie Bogert; her beloved mother, Mrs. Mae Pettis, who still resides in the home where Sondra was raised; her younger brothers, Michael Lee Pettis of Ohio and Dr. Ronald Jensen Pettis from North Carolina, along with their wives and families.

Her union with David Allen on May 30, 2015 expanded her family circle with the addition of David’s three children: Tony, Patricia, and Jeremy. Her love knew no bounds, extending to embrace five grandchildren and eventually three great-grandchildren.

Sondra is preceded in death by her father, Leroy.

Sondra's journey as a registered nurse began after graduating Columbus High School and enrolling in nursing school to obtain her RN designation. Her passion for caregiving and family led her to Oklahoma, where she dedicated herself to Children's Medical Center and later transitioned to Hillcrest Hospital after a merger. She spent her later years working as a nurse at Methodist Manor in Tulsa. Even after retiring, she was committed to her role in being a health advocate by offering consultant work and disposing of medicines for elderly patients. Her commitment to hard work and her daughter's education ensured Kasey's path in attaining a Masters degree from Oklahoma State University.

For more than 16 years, Sondra's nurturing spirit graced University Village Retirement Community, where she devoted her skills to infection control and case management. Her unwavering faith led her to Sand Springs Methodist Church, where she was a long-time member in the church choir and shared her teachings in Sunday School. Her involvement with the Women of Faith, formerly United Methodist Women, reflected her deeply rooted Christian values.

Sondra's multifaceted talents ranged from being a designer and craftswoman with an interest in handmade gifts to a skilled seamstress who often sewed clothes for special events and family and friends, a skill passed down from her loving mother, Mae. Her culinary prowess, notably her renowned chocolate sheet cake, delighted friends and family. Her love for decorating, craft shows, gardening and gift-making was eclipsed only by her charity and devotion to serving others, often being there for anyone who had a health question or needed a listening ear.

Her absence leaves an irreplaceable void, felt deeply by her family, friends, and neighbors. A graveside service for Sondra will take place at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at Parkhill Cemetery, Columbus, Georgia, with arrangements entrusted to the care of McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory of Columbus, GA (www.mcmullenfuneralhome.com). A prior celebration of life was conducted on January 4, at Sand Springs Methodist Church, OK, arranged by Mobley-Groesbeck Funeral Service (www.mogro.co.).