Frances “Fannie” Allen

Frances Elizabeth Gardien Allen, known worldwide as Fannie, passed away peacefully in her home on April 22 at the age of 97. Fannie was born in Gonzales, Texas on December 8, 1919 to William Langford Gardien, Jr. and Mabel Morrison Gardien. She graduated from Gonzales High School in 1937, and soon after graduation she married Louis Fulshear Allen. Living in Luling, Texas, Fulshear and Fannie raised one son, Lemuel Byron Allen, Sr. Both Fulshear and Lem preceded Fannie in death. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Susan Rogers Allen, grandchildren Lembo and wife Kelly, Zac and wife Cathy, and her precious great- granddaughter Abigail. She also leaves behind her angels who took care of her during the last several years of her life. Ana Garcia, Anna Almaguer, Monica Navarro, Elsa Rodriguez Elizabeth Serrano, and Pamela Valadez were awesome with Fannie, and they all had a wonderful bond with her. They are very special ladies, and Fannie’s family thanks them from the bottom of their hearts for their tireless energy and care.

Fannie had a zest for life. She was a fiercely independent and extremely self-confident woman that always enjoyed a good party. She enjoyed hunting, fishing, attending the horse races, playing gin rummy and traveling the world. She loved watching her sweet peas grow and sharing them with people. As a young woman Fannie loved to dance the night away. One of her claims to fame is finishing second to Ginger Rogers in a Charleston contest. Fannie’s true passion was golf. In her prime, she was an active amateur golfer who competed regularly in tournaments throughout the United States. During that time, Fannie was a member of the Austin Country Club where Harvey Penick kept a watchful eye on her golf game. She helped start a junior golf program in Luling, Texas during the 1950s, and she was always interested in inspiring people to take up the game. Widowed at the young age of 43, she moved to a booming Houston, Texas where she had a very successful career as a real estate agent. While in Houston she continued to pursue her passion for the game of golf as a member of Pine Forest Country Club. She retired from the real estate business in 1978 and moved to Seguin, Texas, where she lived until her death. She had her one and only hole in one on the second hole at Onion Creek Country Club in 1987. She continued playing golf well into her seventies. Fannie served on multiple U.S.G.A. committees, and she served several years as an active member of the Trans-Mississippi Golf Association. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church for many years where she attended services, helped out in the office and worked in the pumpkin patch. She was an avid San Antonio Spurs fan that rarely missed watching her “boys” play on television.

In retirement, Mommo, as her grandsons and their friends knew her, loved following Lembo and Zac when they played in golf tournaments and when they participated in their many other activities. She enjoyed watching the pros, and she adopted several “other” grandchildren over the years on the PGA and LPGA tours. Abigail was born and moved immediately to the top of Mommo’s attention list. Mommo wanted daily updates about Abbi’s adventures. She attended as many of Abbi’s events and festivities as she could, and no one could have a conversation with Mommo that didn’t involve her bragging about her precious Abigail’s latest accomplishments. Fannie lived a long and full life.

The Allen family will receive visitors on Friday April 28 at Tres Hewell Mortuary, 165 Tor Drive, Seguin, Texas from 5-7 p.m. for those wishing to pay their respects. The family will honor Fannie’s wishes by having a private graveside service to bury her ashes in the Cartwright-Fulshear family cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that you make a donation in Fannie’s memory to the charity of your choice.  You are invited to sign the guest book at www.treshewell.com.