Emma Jean McLaurin Allen, 86, of Ruston, LA, passed away Friday, April 19, 2019. Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston. A graveside service will be at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Ruston.Mrs. Allen was born on February 27, 1933, in Chatham, Louisiana, to William Hugh and Odessa McLaurin. Emma graduated from Louisiana Tech with a Masters Degree in Home Economics. She worked for the Lincoln Parish School Board as Director of Food Services for all Lincoln Parish schools until her retirement in 1978. She was a long time member of First Baptist Church of Ruston, Louisiana.She is survived by two sons: Bill Allen (wife Patty) of Ozark, Missouri, and Ben Allen (wife Cindy) of Southlake, Texas; two sisters: Mary Ann McLaurin Deen (husband Gordon) of Austin, TX, and Elizabeth McLaurin Dyson (husband Jerry) of Pelham, AL; four grandchildren: Amy Day (husband Bryan) of Ozark, MO, Molly Allen of Ruston, LA, Travis Allen of Norfolk, VA, and Trent Allen of Dallas, TX; two great-grandchildren: Allie and Millie Day.Emma was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Denson Allen, and her parents, William and Odessa McLaurinEmma was a recent resident of Alpine Nursing Home in Ruston, LA where she had many friends.It is the wish of her family that memorial gifts be made to the Building Fund at First Baptist Church of Ruston, LA.Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.