Larissa LaDonn Allen departed this life on September 23, 2022, at the age of 55, following a four-year-long battle with breast cancer, to enter her eternal rest. She was a devoted wife, mother, teacher, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend whose motto was “Choose joy” and “Be the light.” And that she did and was!

Born to the late R.L. and Agnes Pauline Utley in Kennett, Mo., on August 3, 1967, Larissa graduated as Co-Valedictorian of the Clay County Central High School (Rector, Ark.) class of 1985, then earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business – Personnel Management from the University of Arkansas in 1989. She would go on to obtain her Master’s degree in Education, and later her certification in Gifted and Talented Education. Starting her career as a second-grade teacher at Berryville Elementary School in 2002, Larissa came to love her sweet students and second grade. Some 10 years later, she had the opportunity to become the K-12 Gifted and Talented Coordinator, a position she held through the 2021-2022 school year. Only her love for God and her family exceeded the love she had for her students. That feeling appears to be mutual, as over the past few weeks she received numerous texts, videos, visits, and beautiful handmade cards from precious students, past and present.

An avid Berryville Bobcat basketball fan (or fan of most anything her boys were involved in), Larissa was always happy to LOUDLY cheer on the purple and gold (but mostly purple, as that was her favorite color!). If you attend Bobcat basketball games, you may have heard her loudly but politely disagree with a ref or two, “I don’t think so, sir!”

Larissa became a Christian at the age of 13 and let her light shine throughout her life. She was a long-time Larissa LaDonn Allen

member of the Green Forest Church of Christ and had the joy of watching all three of her sons become Christians there. She is survived by her loving husband of 24 years, ChadAllen, and her pride and joy—her three sons, Drew Howerton, Ty Allen, and Nate Allen. She also leaves to cherish her memory her sister Meleia Lewis, her motherin- law Sara Allen, brother-inlaw Kevin Allen (Marketa), sister-in-law Jada Denbow (Mike), sister-in-law Andrea Jones (Mike), and a host of other special family members and dear friends. We know that her much-loved dogs, Brodie, Nash, and Tucker, will greatly miss her too. She was preceded in death by her parents, her father-in-law, Eugene Allen, and her brother-in-law Chuck Lewis.

Visitation was held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 27, 2022, at Nelson Funeral Service in Berryville. Funeral service was held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, September 28, at Church on the Hill in Berryville. Those wishing to honor her memory may consider donating to the charity she founded last year for cancer patients receiving treatments, ChemHo-Ho-Hope, via Facebook, or CS Bank Attn: ChemHO-HO-Hope, PO Box 830, Berryville, AR 72616. We ask that you all “Choose joy and be the light” in Larissa’s memory! Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson Funeral Service. Online condolences may be sent to the family at nelsonfuneral.com.