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Only the good die young
Tami Allen was 42 years old. Stolen from us in the prime of her life with so much more to give. So much to give to her family, her friends, her work and her faith. It doesn't seem right. I remember hearing over and over from my Baptist preacher when I was young that a lot of things in life don't make sense and we just have to have faith that everything has a purpose.
He was right. A lot of things don't make sense. In fact, from time to time, hardly anything makes sense. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for most of the things that happen on this planet. Bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people. Everything seems haphazard and random and, far too often, unfair.
Tami Allen's death was unfair. She left behind two fine young sons, Scott and Mark, both close to embarking on manhood. She left behind two beautiful daughters, Shelby and Riley, who loved their mother with every fiber of their being. She left behind her husband Ken, one of the kindest and gentlest souls I have ever met, who proved his character and value as a human being every minute of every day during her illness. And she left behind parents, sisters, a brother, and too many friends to count. That's not fair.
We said goodbye to Tami yesterday at the Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook. It was filled to overflowing with people who loved her, cared about her, and will miss her.
Tami was one of the most confident people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. She was no shrinking violet by any stretch of the imagination. She had her notions about how the world worked and why and how all of us fit into the plan and she was never one to straddle the fence. Her beliefs and values shone through in every conversation and, if they happened to conflict with your own, that was too bad because she wasn't about to modify the way she believed or the things she believed in to placate someone else.
I've spent many pleasurable moments in the Allen homes, especially their current one. The door was never locked and I've been scolded more than once for knocking instead of just going on in. Literally every visit I've made to their house found either Tami or Ken or both of them doing something with their children. School projects, homework, board games, and movies on television always involved the whole family.
Tami's family will miss her. I was fortunate enough to meet a lot of her family, particularly her sisters and their families one Friday afternoon a couple of years ago. Being around Tami and her siblings was a true delight and I was not surprised to see Tami's strong character and opinions displayed by them as well. And Ken and the children will miss her. A dear friend of mine told me after visiting Tami one day that Tami confided in her that she had the easy job (dying) and Ken would have the tough job (raising Shelby and Riley by himself).
But Ken has had tough times before and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that not only will he be up to the challenge, he will excel. Because that's the kind of man he is.
The community will also miss Tami. She loved McCook and its people. She loved working in our town and she loved meeting and getting to know new friends. Even when the die was cast in terms of her terminal condition, she continued to talk about going back to work at Central National Bank. She thrived on people. She never met a stranger and would have given the shirt off her back to anyone in need and Ken is just the same. Those of you who didn't know Tami missed out on something very, very special. Knowing Tami Allen changed your life because you were never again exactly the same after getting to know her.
I've been telling my students now for twenty years that acquaintances are many but true friends are few. In fact, when one lies down to breath their last breath, if it takes more than the fingers on one hand to count the true friends you've had throughout your life, you are truly a blessed person.
Tami Allen was truly a blessed person.