Gary Eugene Allen

Funeral services for Gary Eugene Allen, 55, of Lufkin will be held Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Faith Family Church in Burke with Brother Joe Sawyer, Brother Vic Bass and Hayland Hardy officiating. Graveside services with military honors will follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Chester. The family will host visitation from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at Carroway Funeral Home in Lufkin.

Gary was born August 8, 1968, in Lufkin, Texas, to his parents, the late Rita Jo (Lowe) Crustner and Earnest Eugene Allen.

Gary believed in fully working with his hands and his heart in all that he did. His entire life was one of service to others.

He was a standout athlete and played nose guard for Huntington High School's football team. Upon graduation in 1987, he began his journey of selfless service by enlisting in the Navy aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). Upon returning to Texas, he combined his love of food and his grandfather into a joint business, Pete & Gary's BBQ, for five years. After learning the masonry trade from his grandfather, he became an independent brick-laying contractor. For 12 years, he poured his soul into building fireplaces, walls, entranceways, columns, chimneys, fountains, walkways and other unique fixtures at homes and businesses throughout East Texas through his business Angelina Stone & Stove. His craftsmanship and eye for detail earned him respect and recognition among local contractors.

After earning his Trades and Industrial Education teaching certification from the University of North Texas, his next venture led him to the Windham School District campus at the Estelle Unit for 9 years. There, he taught brick-laying courses which led to NCCER industry certifications to incarcerated men so they could better obtain employment after release. Although his commute in the wee hours of the morning required mega mugs of coffee and included a couple of true deer-in-the-headlight moments, the appreciation and hard work he received from his students made it worthwhile and instilled a lifelong love of teaching and awarding second chances to others.

When an opportunity to work closer to home became available, he began his next career as a Building Trades Teacher at Diboll High School. Although he'd often claim that high school was a tougher place to teach than prison, he was recently awarded the high school's Nicest Teacher Award and was selected to participate in the 2023 Teacher Externship Program through the Texas Workforce Commission.

Of course, Gary's most valued pupils were his three sons, whom he coached through lives of countless baseball, soccer, football, FFA, and college events, all with simple words of advice and a grin as big as his stature.

The area of Gary's life where he was the student was with his discipleship with his Lord and Savior. At the age of 13, Gary made his most important decision when he accepted Him into his life. Gary's faith and belief guided his decisions and enabled him to trust that whatever occurred was part of God's plan for his life. He was a true example of loving his God with all his heart, soul and mind and loving his neighbor as yourself. He was able to share his passion for Christ while serving as Children's Director at Faith Family Church for over a decade.

His love of the outdoors led his family to enjoy numerous memorable camping and fishing adventures in the mountains. Forever the quiet protector and defender of his family, he was most comfortable in the background, but was always up for hiking, biking, cooking outside, watching his local sports teams, gardening, driving down country roads and even doing yard work. He was also a proud Aggie dad, and spent many hours making trips to College Station and watching Texas A&M football. Of course, his most prized possession was his favorite recliner.

Gary is survived by the love of his life for 31 years, his wife Chantea, and his three proudest achievements, his sons Tyler, Dylan and Riley; his sisters, Stacy Marshall (Richard), Leslie Patton; his stepfather, Bobby Crustner; and numerous extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earnest Eugene Allen and Rita Jo (Lowe) Crustner; and his grandparents, Frank "Pete" and Lonnie Lowe, and Newton D. and Mae Allen.

Pallbearers will be Colton McGaughey, Matthew McGaughey, Anthony Bordelon, Monte Reed, Coty Reed, Chris Sumner, Mark Willis and Jeremy Havard.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Diboll FFA Booster Club Scholarship Fund, 1000 Lumberjack Drive, Diboll, Texas 75941.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.