Mary Lou Holloway Allen, 86, of Guntersville, Alabama, peacefully passed away at home on June 10, 2025.
Born on November 16, 1938, in Birmingham, Alabama, Mary Lou was the beloved daughter of the late Woodrow and Eloise Griffin. She grew up in the community of Ishkooda, AL, alongside her dear sisters, Betty Joyce Gabbard and Linda Williams, both of whom preceded her in death.
Mary Lou was twice blessed in marriage. She shared 50 loving years with her first husband, Kenneth Ray Holloway, until his passing. Later, she married Zeke Wendell Allen, who also preceded her in death.
She is survived by her devoted daughter, Anita Delane Holloway; her granddaughter, Nikki Cannon Forrester, and great-grandsons Ethan Brewer Forrester and Caden Lane Forrester; and her grandson, Michael Chad Cannon, his wife Ashley Booth Cannon, and great-granddaughters Collier Grace Cannon and Martha Caroline Cannon.
Mary Lou retired from the H.D. Lee plant after many years of dedicated service. She was a proud member of Victory Baptist Church, where she found joy in her faith and fellowship. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and a long-time member of the Marshettes of the Marshall Shrine Club.
She will be remembered for her love of gardening and the beauty she created through flower arranging and jewelry making. Mary Lou also cherished the companionship of the many dogs she cared for over the years. A lifelong fan of both NASCAR racing and Alabama football, she loved cheering on her favorite drivers and the Crimson Tide.
Above all, Mary Lou was a nurturing and joyful presence — a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Her legacy of love, kindness, and quiet strength will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.
