Jane Ruffin Allen

Jane Ruffin Allen, Mama to some & Mamau to many, was 99 & 3/4 years old when she suffered a stroke & passed peacefully away on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at her Total Loving Care home in New Caney, Tx.      Jane was born on July 30, 1920 in Wilson, N.C. to Harvey Barron Ruffin Jr. & Lula Roane (Hackney) Ruffin.  She grew up in Wilson, attending Charles L. Coon High School & Atlantic Christian College.  She left her shy, stationary years when she married her first husband Lloyd E. (Mac) McCormick, career U.S. Air Force sergeant, in Wilson towards the end of W.W. II.  As a military wife, Jane lived 9 years overseas in England, Uruguay, & Spain, where she was known for her fine cooking & gracious southern hospitality.  She also lived as a military wife for 16 years in Virginia, Texas, Washington D.C., & Missouri.  Jane married a second time to Robert L. (Bob) Nixon, purchasing agent in Baytown, Tx., when she was a highly respected Administrative Officer with the Johnson Space Center (N.A.S.A.) in Houston.  After Bob died, Jane became part-owner of a travel agency & took tour groups to many Canadian, European & Pacific Ocean travel destinations.  Jane's last marriage was to retired career U.S. Air Force major Ray C. Allen.  Ever-adaptable, she then lived in both Texas & Florida where she became avid fisherwoman & even paraglided in her late sixties!      Jane was beloved matriarch of two beautifully blended families that don't use the word "step" in front of family relationships.  She was treasured by her children from both marriages, & by those who knew her, for her "sweet southern sass", her warmth, laughter, willingness to try, & great gratitude.  She was a clear example of God at work, transforming a timid girl into a woman whose life made a true difference!     Jane is predeceased by her 3 husbands, her sisters Hack Thigpen & Mary Harvey Witherington, & her son Lloyd E. (Chipper) McCormick.  She is survived by her daughters Janie Webster, Sara Jones, & Pam VanderLinde, her sons Rob & Dave Nixon, her brother Harvey Barron III (Bud) Ruffin, her sons-in-law Bob Webster & Rick Jones, her daughters-in-law Llana & Diane Nixon, 8 grandchildren, & 8 great-grandchildren.     Jane's family hopes to share a virtual Celebration of Jane's Life on Zoom, in the near future, with plans to have an in-person celebration service at Lake Houston United Methodist Church in Huffman, Tx., whenever covid-19 allows...  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Diabetes Association (Donate in Memory) or to the LHUMC sanctuary building fund by giving online to www.lakehoustonumc.com/give or by mailing a check to LHUMC, PO Box 886, Huffman, TX 77336.