Debra Ann Coaston Allen's Obituary
Debra Ann Coaston Allen was born on April 7, 1964 to George and Shirley Dumas Coaston in Berkeley, CA. She was baptized at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on May 3, 1964. She grew up in Bethlehem where she met many of her lifelong friends. She later joined her Mom at Downs Memorial United Methodist Church in Oakland, CA but Bethlehem was always her home.
She attended Oakland Public Schools; Marshall Elementary, Montera Jr. High, and Skyline High School. Following graduation from Skyline, she attended Dillard University in New Orleans, LA for her freshman and sophomore years of college, followed by attending her junior and part of her senior years at U.C. Santa Cruz.
Debra worked at a number of banking institutions before being employed by Southwest Airlines where she worked for 25 years. She loved her job and was a dedicated employee who seldom missed work until forced to by her recent illness. Over the years she won many awards for attendance, years of service, and for decorating her gates on special occasions.
Debra was a compassionate individual who gave generously to those in need. She worked hard at being a peacemaker. Debra was a great wife, daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, niece, friend; never forgetting a birthday, anniversary, graduation, Christmas or any reason to celebrate.
She loved cooking, gardening, traveling, music, dancing (she had rhythm - unlike her mom who does not) and decorating. She missed her true calling as an interior decorator because she was an interior designer extraordinaire who decorated for any occasion.
Debra married the love of her life, Bennie Allen Jr. on July 17, 2014, and the traveling increased because they both like to travel and both worked for the airline industry.
Debra transitioned this life on August 19, 2021 with her mother and her sister at her side. She was preceded in death by grandparents Cornelius and Pearl Bailey Dumas, Sr; George and Lucille Scott Coaston, Sr; her in-laws, Bennie and Ruth Allen Sr.
She leaves to cherish her memory her devoted husband, Bennie Allen Jr; stepson Bennie Allen III; grandson Jaden Amir Allen; parents George and Shirley Dumas Coaston; brother George Coaston Jr (Kathleen); sister Angela Coaston Burnell (Dale); nieces Toni Coaston, Justine and Joelle Burnell; nephews Troy Coaston and Justin Burnell; uncle and aunt Cornelius and Barbara Dumas Jr; brothers-in-law Grover Allen, Samuel Brown, Leroy Allen, Curtis (Brenda) Allen, Thomas Darnell Allen, Toy (Stacy) Allen; sisters-in-law Vera (Carl) McIver, Ella Allen, and Mabel (Michael) Page; closest friend Patricia Malone; and a host of nieces and nephews on the Allen side, as well as other relatives, friends, and precious dog Praline.
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