Allen Mathew Laflen

Allen Mathew Laflen, 97, Moundville, Mo., passed away suddenly Friday, Aug. 7, 2009, at Nevada Regional Medical Center, Nevada. He was born Nov. 13, 1911, in Milo, Mo., to Lemuel Mathew Laflen and Bessie Mae Shouse Laflen. He was married August 15, 1931 in Butler, Mo., to Mary Anna Elizabeth Brown and she survives of the home.

Allen attended Milo schools and graduated from Nevada High School in 1929. He farmed in the Milo and Moundville area for all of his life. He even had a fine crop of corn and tomatoes this year! He was a supporter of Vernon County 4-H, he was a Shriner and Mason He enjoyed sports of all kinds, and he played baseball and basketball for Milo town teams. He loved to watch baseball and basketball particularly when his children and grandchildren were playing. He watched many a Bronaugh basketball game from the top row while wearing his coonskin cap. He loved to travel. He had been to all 50 states, Australia, New Zealand, Soviet Union, Mexico, and Europe. Some of his best memories were of camping with the family in Wyoming and New Mexico, traveling to Yellowstone with the older four kids, and going to Alaska.

In addition to his wife, of 77 years, Mary Anna, survivors include three sons, John Matthew Laflen and his wife Shirley of Buffalo Center, Iowa, Robert (Bob) Allen Laflen and his wife Karen of Houston, Texas, and Jerry Mark Laflen and his wife Betty Jo of Moundville; two daughters, Bess Ellen Sellens and her husband Herb of Hoisington, Kan., and Penny Jo Anna Beattie and her husband Michael of Webb City, Mo.; 15 grandchildren, Phil Sellens of Great Bend, Kan., Scot and Susanne Hines of Anchorage, Alaska, Bruce and Jennifer Hines of Franklin, Tenn., Mary and John McGee of Fort Collins, Colo., Susan and Eric Rokke of Monument Colo., Christy and Jay Merfeld of Marion, Iowa, Cindy and Christian Miller of Buffalo Center, Iowa, Cheri Laflen of Ames, Iowa, Coral and Jerry Jordan of Sigel, Penn., Julie and David Brown of Houston, Texas, Jill and Nick Gonzalez of Austin, Texas, Joseph Laflen of Springfield, Mo., Jerry and Jill Laflen of Denver, Colo., Jeff and Holly Laflen of Olathe, Kan., and John Laflen of Pittsburg, Kan.; 38 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Allen always enjoyed his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents Lemuel and Bessie Laflen, daughter and son-in-law Mary Pauline Laflen Hines and Paul Hines, and one granddaughter Kathleen Ann Hines.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with Lester Thornton officiating. Interment will follow in Milo Cemetery, Milo. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Sunday evening between 4 and 5 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the Vernon County 4-H in care of Ferry Funeral Home, 301, S. Washington, Nevada, MO 64772.

View obituary and send condolences on line at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.