Amy Gail Allen

“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever because the WORD of God is alive and powerful!” The family of Amy Gail Allen, age 77, is now celebrating her transition to Heaven at 5:00PM on January 9, 2021. Survivors include her husband of 17 years, James Ronald Skains; her daughter of 20 years, Katie Skains Wescott; her 27 month old granddaughter, Annalynn; her “super favorite niece”, Dawn Johnson and husband, Bill and their two children, Billy and Abbygail Johnson; her sister, Mary and husband, Willie of Winnfield; a 93 year old aunt, Annie Vee McMillian of Little Rock, Arkansas. Also, Amy leaves behind several cousins, including Lloyd Smith of Lake Charles and Amy’s “bosom-buddy” and life-long friend, comrade-in-arms, and business partner, first cousin, Betty Kraft of Pride. Amy began her leadership and career training while in high school under the tutelage of her Speech and Drama teacher, Nell Grigg. Amy excelled in Academics and was Student Manager of the school radio station. Amy left her hometown of Winnfield the day after graduating from high school and enrolled at age 17, at LSU, where she would ultimately earn four degrees. She then pursued a career in education with the EBR School System for 33 years as a classroom teacher, supervising teacher and retiring 19 years ago as Director of Staff Development. Amy was a trail-blazer in education circles, co-founding and serving as a past president of the LA Staff Development Council. Amy was an active in the National Staff Develop Organization and was a certified Steven Covery “7 Habits of Highly Successful People” trainer. She was a longtime member of Delta Kappa Gamma and a proud member of the DAR. Amy was a co-founder of the LA Presbyterian Cursillo; a longtime member of Broadmoor Presbyterian Church, serving on the session, and participated in Bible Study Fellowship, a national organization, for over 12 years. Amy was also active in a “food-ministry” for the last five years. She was also a member of the Gideon Auxiliary with a passion for giving Bibles to children. In lieu of flowers, the family would like any donations to be made in Amy’s honor to the Gideons to buy more Bibles, P.O. Box 15824, Baton Rouge, LA 70895. After retiring from EBR School System, she and Betty embarked on a 12 year career of “Educational Consulting”. Amy also assisted her husband’s writing career serving as an Associate Editor of the “Backroads Observer” and the “Inspire Louisiana” publications. A memorial celebration service will be held on Saturday, January 16, 2021, at 11AM at Lanier Baptist Church on Lanier Dr. with a reception to follow. A memorial service will also be held in Winnfield on Friday, January 22, 2021, at the Presbyterian Church at Noon with a short graveside service to follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery. A special thanks to her wonderful doctors; Dr. Amanda Lea, Dr. K. Mieners, and Dr. Dustin Loque of Zachary, Dr. Jay Brooks of Ochsner Cancer Center, Dr. Guillory of the Carpenter House, and nurses, Tracy, Natalie and Chad of the Carpenter Hospice House.