Charisse Allen

Charisse Carmel Allen

June 21, 1955 ~ July 6, 2017

On July 6, 2017, our beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend, Charisse Carmel Allen returned to our heavenly father after a short battle with cancer, in Roy, Utah.

Born in Seattle Washington on June 21, 1955 to Julia (Miranda) and Harry Allen. She spent part of her childhood in Alki point Seattle and later moved to southern Idaho.

Charisse joined the service and served as a clerk in the United States Army from 1974-1977, at the Elm School of music in Norfolk, VA. After the army, she spent several years living in Boston with her first spouse, upon divorce she later returned to Idaho and married Joseph A. Valdez.

She attended the College of Southern Idaho, earning her Associates of Science degree, and becoming an R.N. Together they had a daughter, Mara Bland (Valdez). The two later divorced but remained close. Charisse later moved to Ogden, Utah and began working at Davis Hospital in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, where she would remain for nearly 25 years.

Charisse enjoyed many things, but most of all reading, she could source the most obscure books and would read up to six at a time. She also spent her summers playing tennis with the local USTA tennis leagues and made several lasting friendships. She was also a very spiritual person and spent many years studying various religions and sharing her knowledge with loved ones.

Charisse also enjoyed traveling to the various locations her daughter was stationed as a U.S. Military spouse, including many European countries and Hawaii. Her mother, father, and younger brother preceded her in death.

She is survived by her brothers Harry Allen and JJ Gonzalez; her daughter Mara Bland (Jared) and grandson Boston Bland.

A memorial service in her honor will be held on Saturday, July 15, 2017, at 2 p.m. at the Lindquist’s Roy Mortuary, 3333 West 5600 South.