Norris Allen

Norris Elliott Allen passed away on September 8, 2023, in Redwood City, California from pneumonia after living with dementia for a number of years.

Norris was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1939 to Kendall Allen and Gertrude Cosette (Elliott) Allen. He studied at the University of Maryland and University of Pennsylvania and obtained his Ph.D. in Microbiology. He married Carole Medley in 1964 in Baltimore, and after completing his post- doc, he joined Eli Lilly in Indianapolis, Indiana where he worked as a Research Microbiologist for his whole career and published many research papers. He and Carole spent their years in Indianapolis hosting gourmet dinners with fine wine, traveling, and enjoying family and friends.

Norris was preceded in death by his wife Carole (Medley) Allen in 2013 and his brother James T. Parsons, Jr. in 2011. Norris is survived by his daughter Carrie Allen (Evan Thayer); three grandchildren; Jack Thayer, Lucy Thayer, and Ruby Thayer; brother Douglas W. Allen (Brenda Moses-Allen); nieces Camille (Steven) McCarroll and Morgan Moses-Allen; and numerous other nieces and nephews.

A service will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at Flanner Buchanan Washington Park North, 2706 Kessler Blvd in Indianapolis at 11am, with one hour of gathering prior to service.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to the Indianapolis Public Library Foundation.