Contessa Ann Allen

Mrs. Contessa Ann Allen, 50, departed this life on Thursday, June 22, 2023. She was born on Tuesday, October 10, 1972 in Lawton, Oklahoma.

She was the beloved daughter of Jerry D. and Carmen Smithson and loving mother of Cameron and Livy Allen, wife of Shelby Allen and daughter-in-law of Paul and Pat Allen, precious granddaughter of Clyde M. Nelson, Elizabeth Slovick, and Arminda "Granny" Smithson, and niece of many aunts and uncles.

There were some constant truths in Contessa's life. If you were in her circle of family or friends, you were important to her. An often-heard phrase said to her children was, "I love you to the moon and back."

Another truth was she derived great joy and pleasure from serving her family and friends a delicious home-cooked meal. She put her heart and soul into every culinary creation because food was an expression of love for her. The smile on her face and the twinkle in her eyes spoke volumes about how happy she was to give something of herself through food.

Her adventurous side came out with all of her special creations. While she knew how to follow a recipe, most of the time she threw the cook book out the window. That was when she shined. You were in for a treat with the latest iteration of her take on a delectable dessert, baked good, or grilled masterpiece.

Food wasn't her only creative outlet though. Early on in life her mother planted the seed for crafts. They would often spend time together going to craft shows and fairs. It was a great time for them to bond in a shared interest. Contessa's particular knack was for sculpting clay figurines and Christmas ornaments.

When summer rolled around, she was all a buzz with planning outings to the water park, pool, or beach. Basking in the summer sun, spending time with the kids, and dipping her toes in the water brought her a special kind of peace. She longed to stroll down the beach listening to the calming sound of the ocean and sifting through sand in search of the perfect shell as a memento of that particular trip.

While life may not have dealt her the best hand when it came to health, the family can rest assured that she lived life to the fullest. She loved them all to the moon and back, and it left an indelible mark on their hearts. Her precious memory will be a comfort for the years to come.

The family is understandably devastated by her passing. Her request was to be cremated. The family is planning a celebration of her life in the coming weeks. Please feel free to share memories and condolences for them at www.gentrysmithfuneralhome.com Gentry-Smith Funeral Home, 303 Murfreesboro Rd. Woodbury, TN 37190, 615-563-5337. Because every life has a story.

Her mother wanted to share this heartfelt poem:

To the moon and back, I'll follow your star.

To the moon and back, isn't really that far.

For my heart knows, what a gift you are.

I love you to the moon and back.

I met myself one day after I had fallen apart

I lay on the ground, limbs shattered and torn,

mind tired and weary, heart broken

Everything lost and nothing left to lose

Surely the ground would swallow me up?

I thought

I hoped

But it didn't

The earth from which I came

wouldn't reclaim me

I wondered if I were poison?

I lay there a while longer

eyes closed

the earth breathing beneath me

deep exaggerated breaths

I matched its rhythm

and when I did

My limbs stitched back together

My mind relaxed

And my heart began to mend

And

I saw her

Standing there

Staring in

and out through my eyes

She reached for me with my mothers hands

smiling a beautiful storied smile

Myself

I love you she said

And I believed her