CHAPEL HILL – Lavonne “Leigh” Budge Allen, 81, of Chapel Hill bade farewell to family and friends Saturday, Jan. 22, 2005, following a brave but brief fight with a challenging illness. She has lived in Chapel Hill, N.C., not far from where her Leigh ancestors emigrated centuries ago. A graduate of Palm Beach High School, “Peaches” as she was fondly called by family and friends, was named “Best All Around”. Leigh attended Duke University for two years where she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority. She then transferred to Parson’s School of Design where she studied interior design. Leigh married Lyle McDowell Allen Jr. of St. Louis, Mo., a graduate of Duke University and Washington Law School. She worked as an interior decorator in St. Louis, until the age of 30 when she became a full-time housewife. Leigh was active in St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Ladue, Mo. In 1968, the couple moved with their two children to Chappaqua, N.Y., when her husband became assistant general counsel for American Home Products (now Ayerst) until they retired to Chapel Hill, N.C., in 1983. Following her husband’s passing in 1989, Leigh lived independently in Chapel Hill and in a family summer home in Greenville, of her own design. Active in retirement, Leigh took courses at the Duke Institute for Learning and Retirement Program. She served as a docent for the Duke University’s Art Museum, painted with watercolors and swam regularly. Leigh is survived by her son, Lyle M. Allen III, 52, and grandson, Tyler, 14, of Durham; as well as her daughter, Patricia Leigh Allen, 48; and grandchildren, Sarha, 19, Nadia 17, and Ali Mavrakis, 13, of Dallas, Texas. Funeral services will be held 12:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24, from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1737 Hillandale Rd., Durham, NC 27705. Burial will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery. Please join family and friends for a light lunch before the service at 11:30 a.m. in the church. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to your favorite arts organization or the general fund at Duke University. E-mail condolences may be sent to info@hallwynne.com. Hall-Wynne Funeral Service is assisting the Allen family.
LAVONNE ‘LEIGH’ BUDGE ALLEN
