After moving to Elgin in 1977, her brave spirit led her into a career as a home builder, to mastering Spanish while living in Mexico, and to two Masters degrees in Community and Regional Planning from The University of Texas at Austin. She and her husband enjoyed the end of their careers spent driving together daily to Austin, each holding positions with the State of Texas.

In recent years, she found great joy with her Elgin yoga friends, visiting the Thursday Farmers’ Market where vendors became friends, and documenting the historic Black cemeteries of Bastrop County. Spending summers in the Shenandoah Valley, Allison forged close friendships in the Raphine area, participated in her Heifetz music group, and explored the scenic trails, roads, and waterways of Rockbridge County.

A daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, friend, she filled the role anyone needed at any time; always willing to listen; always willing to give. Adventurous and curious, she was rarely idle. Fearless in the pursuits of life; a gentle presence in the appearance of chaos. She quietly walked through this life with us being the missing piece we all need to make our lives fit together.

Allison leaves behind her loving children: Rachel Frank, Todd Frank, Toby Russell (grandsons Thomas and Frankie) and Emily Russell, along with an extended family network that includes the Mark and Miriam Owen family, the Rick and Betsy Nalle family, the Gina Kreutz family, and the Ed and Karla Rivers family.

Thank you, Allison, for sharing your amazing self with all of us.