For Allee family, Navy service is stitched through generations

Ray and Jean Allee stand in front of the Quilt of Valor.
Ray and Jean Allee stand in front of the Quilt of Valor.

Since 2007, the Bookworm Sewing and Quilting Group of California has helped honor veterans with their intricate quilt designs. On June 18, the group presented their 79th Quilt of Valor to Ray Allee.

Though Allee and the quilt reside in Colleyville, Texas, much of the meaning behind it lives right here in California.

"It's a humbling and honorable experience," Ray said. "They put so much time, effort and love into it."

Ray's sentiments about the quilt are echoed by his mother, Jean Allee, who has lived in California since 1996. Born in the Australian Outback, Jean married California native Truman Allee, who was stationed in Australia on Naval duty at the time. With a late husband and multiple sons who devoted much of their life to the Navy, the quilt contains extra meaning for Jean.

"I was very touched by it," Jean said. "Those ladies work hard to make those quilts. It just thrilled me that he was able to get one because I felt like he really deserved one for all he accomplished when he was in the Navy."

After enrolling in the Navy right out of high school, Ray went to Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida. Upon being deployed in Vietnam on a nine-month tour in 1970, he was a bombardier/navigator in an A-6 Intruder. In total, Ray spent seven of his 25 years of active Navy service at sea. He retired from service in 1992 as a Navy captain.

As a member of the California's chapter of the General Federated Women's Club, Jean and the other women helped come up with the idea to make the quilts. The Bookworm Sewing and Quilting Group gets together on Tuesdays above the California Public Library.

"I think it's wonderful what they do," Jean said. "These veterans, we owe them a debt of gratitude. If it weren't for them, we probably wouldn't be here as a country."

Ray's quilt was quilted by Judy Burger and pieced by Carol Woehrer.

"They're a special group of ladies who want to show respect and recognition to those who served," he said.

Both Ray and Jean were born in Australia, but the journey of life has taken all over America. They've lived in California, Eldon and Fort Scott, Kansas, and in Ray's case, Hawaii, Washington D.C. and Texas as well.

Having passed away in 1999, Truman never received a quilt for his Navy service in the Pacific in WWII. But given the high regard in which Jean and Ray hold the Quilt of Valor, you have to think that when they look at it, they see much more than just fabric and stitches.

"I'll cherish it forever because it has so much meaning," Ray said.