Anna Allison

Anna Lorene Reeves was born to Eldred Sr. and Ehrma Reeves on April 15, 1927 in a sod house northwest of Gordon, Nebraska. Anna grew up there with her sister Norma and her brother Eldred. Anna attended grade school at White Lodge School District #86 and later graduated from Gordon High School in 1944.

Anna married Kenneth Allison on April 18, 1949. The pair worked on ranches throughout their lives- first at Oelrichs, South Dakota and later near Gordon and Arthur, Nebraska. During their early time in the Gordon area, Anna worked as a telephone switchboard operator for Northwestern Bell and was recognized by the regional supervisor for being one of the fastest operators at the Gordon location, all while maintaining outstanding customer service and courtesy on calls. Anna later left the phone company to help Kenny ranching and care for their son Randy, who was welcomed into their union on December 29, 1951. Anna enjoyed her time keeping up with Randy as he grew up and later found herself supporting him at sporting events and rodeos.

As time went on Anna wanted to expand her contributions and help the family income, so she learned all she could about fabrics and sewing. She was creative and was already a budding seamstress. Anna was blessed to have a mentor who took her to the Omaha, Nebraska, fabric market, where she learned about buying quality fabric bundles and samples wholesale. Anna honed her skills, and her business grew, making her well known for creating beautiful draperies throughout Sheridan County and beyond. Many family and friends may recall her large sewing room in the house that Kenny and Anna built northwest of Gordon (now the Rick & Marvel Reeves’ home). Anna also enjoyed gardening and often had a bountiful garden from which she canned many products through the years. Grandma Anna could always find help from mischievous grandkids who were sent to “help” weed the garden.

Anna has always been proud of her partnership and role as a longstanding rancher's wife, where she cooked, cleaned, sewed, and helped wrangle cows when needed. She especially enjoyed the antics of baby calves and colts that Kenny bred each year. Anna loved children and was a volunteer mentor for 4-H, a leader for children’s Sunday school classes and taught vacation bible school for years. Anna was so often filled with joy and laughter as she shared the tales of toddlers that she kept in her care for other young ranching wives and neighbors. Kenny and Anna finished out their ranching years on the A.W. Moursund Ranch before finally moving to town. After moving to town, Anna worked at the Sheridan County Hospital where she helped in the kitchen. Kenny and Anna adjusted to “city life,” and continued to celebrate over 56 years of marriage before his passing in 2005- they loved each other deeply.

Anna was a proud member of Concerned Women for America and attended Women of Faith and other christian women’s conferences over the years. Anna was active politically and stood by her values, virtues and ethics. Most important of Anna’s values was her belief in our Lord and Savior- Jesus Christ. Anna spent many hours reading, praying, and developing her relationship with the Lord. Anna was always hungry to understand and gain more insight from the scripture through sermons, books, and her own personal study of the bible. Anna took great pride and joy in sharing the gospel with others and has introduced countless individuals to the Lord. Many family and friends recognize her contribution to their own walk of faith. Anna was a prayer warrior for many people as well as local, state, and national issues. Anna truly left a legacy and a blueprint for how to live a faithful and obedient life for the Lord.

Anna passed away at the Gordon Countryside Care facility on November 24, 2025.

She is survived by her children, Randy (Pat) Allison, her grandchildren Chad (Candy), Shane (Brenda), Shawna (Scott) Fullerton, Brady (Anna), Holly (Colt), Cristi (David) Hinton, Kasi Chabot; her great-grandchildren Trey (Katelyn), Taylor, Steven Fullerton, Savannah Fullerton, Shawna Shadboldt, Araleigh, Kole, Rio, Quin, Jes (Tyler) Hanson, Brenlyn, Dailor, Trake and Mariyah; her great-great grandchilren Ella, Everly & Barrett; and her brother Eldred Reeves (Jean); as well as the many other cousins, family and friends celebrating her life and legacy.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, November 28th, 2025, at 10:00 AM MST at the Pleasant Point Church, Ellsworth, NE (33 miles south of Gordon on Hwy 27) with burial in the Pleasant Point Church Cemetery next to her beloved Kenny. Fellowship and meal will follow the services & burial.