Norah Lee Allen Obituary, Death – At the age of 76, country music icon Norah Lee Allen passed away quietly on March 31st. Throughout her extraordinary life, Norah Lee, who was born and reared in Bowling Green, Kentucky, shone as a beacon of skill, grace, and generosity. At a young age, Norah Lee embarked on her musical career by performing with her sisters in The Stuart Sisters Trio, under the direction of their father.
Her natural gift developed early on, and in 1968 she became a member of the legendary Chuck Wagon Gang, honing her craft as a country gospel singer. She started a relationship with lead singer of The Oak Ridge Boys Duane Allen on September 22, 1969, and the two became husband and wife for more than 50 years.
Her professional journey led her to Nashville, where her remarkable singing skills gained her recognition. Norah Lee’s versatility and expertise were evident from her early days at Benson Publishing Group to her time as a background vocalist at the Grand Ole Opry. She sang on the Opry stage for more than 40 years, sharing her voice with many of the best talents in the business.
As evidence of her ongoing influence on the music industry, Norah Lee was inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2022. Her contributions to country music and her legacy as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother will always be treasured. Duane Allen, Norah Lee’s devoted spouse of 54 years and 8 months, her children Jamie Allen Martin, son-in-law Paul Martin, and son Dee Allen, as well as her grandchildren March, Kell, Texas, and Tallant Martin, survive her.
Her cherished nieces and nephews, Dale and Carol Miller, Mindy and Seth Alexander, and George and Julie Sells, as well as her sister-in-law Martha Shannon and brother-in-law George Sells, survive her as well. Riley, Regan, and Reese Miller, as well as Quinn and Samantha Sells, are among her great nieces and nephews. Whose memory they shall all cherish and honor in her honor.
With her death, Norah Lee is reunited with her father Noble Stuart, sister Sandra Stuart Sells, sister Lana Stuart Miller, brother-in-law Maurice Miller, and her cherished mother Ima Mae Stuart. Her baby daughter Julie Anna and her little great-nephews Reid and Randon Miller also accompany her.
In addition to her incredible skill, Norah Lee will be cherished for her kindness, generosity, humor, and faith. Her kind disposition made a lasting impression on many people and impacted the lives of everyone she encountered. There will be two sites for Norah Lee Allen’s funeral arrangements: First Baptist Church Hendersonville, 106 Bluegrass Commons Blvd., Hendersonville, TN 37075, on Tuesday, April 2. Open for visits from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM Service begins at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 3 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Stuart’s Chapel, 6002 Stuart Chapel Road, Lewisburg, KY 42256 Service begins at 2:00 p.m. Interment will happen right away.
