Funeral services for Mrs. Merle Allen, 86, will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday at Cypress Baptist Church of West Monroe where she was a life-time member. Rev. Larry Eubanks will officiate. Interment will follow at the church cemetery under direction of Kilpatrick's Funeral Home, West Monroe, LA. She was born on August 3, 1926 and went to be with her Lord on November 2, 2012. She graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 1951 with a degree in education. She began her teaching career in Wisner, LA. She then taught for the Ouachita Parish School Board at Cypress, Watson, and Pinecrest elementary schools. “Aunt Merle” was loved by all her students and treasured by the children of her family throughout her life. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Murphy and her much-loved husband, T.W. Allen, siblings, Arlene Brady, Woodrow Murphy, Ezra Murphy and Lucille Shellito. Left to honor her memory: Victoria Wyatt sister, Bobby Murphy, Sr. brother, and numerous nieces and nephews. Her nephews will serve as pallbearers. Visitation will be from 1:00 till the service at Cypress Baptist Church on Sunday.