Ailene Jeanette Allison-Tew

HAMILTON – Ailene Jeannette Allison-Tew, 87, of Hamilton passed away Wednesday, February 3, 2016 at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital due to heart failure. She was born December 31, 1928 in Kansas City, KS, and was the daughter of David and Sarah Jenkins.

Ailene was raised and educated in Kansas City until moving to Montana at a young age. She moved to California around the age of 20. She married Deward Phipps and they later divorced. Ailene married Richard Lee Allison in 1949 and they remained together for over 50 years. She then married Ralph Tew in 2001 and he passed away in 2006.

Ailene was manager of Jose’s Mexican Restaurant in Southern California and eventually became owner of Jose’s in La Puente, CA. From there, she moved to Hamilton, MT, with her husband Richard in 1984. It was there that she and Richard invested in multiple properties which allowed them to enjoy their retirement years.

Ailene and Richard loved to bowl and made many friends on their bowling leagues. She was very active in her church and was a member of the Christian Women’s Fellowship. She loved to sing, and her church and family loved to hear her perform. She was known far and wide for her culinary talents. Ailene made friends wherever she went and would strike up conversations with people in restaurants, grocery stores, or even on the street. She loved her role as Grandma and Great Grandma and gave her grandkids many special memories to cherish.

Ailene was preceded in death by her parents; 4 siblings, Alfred Jenkins, Alberta VanFossen, Ruth Saylor and Betty Paschall; and her three husbands. She is survived by her son, Deward “Rip” Phipps of Conroe, TX; her son, Christopher Allison and wife Kathy of Pensacola, FL; her daughter, Dorsie Jones and her husband Chris of Hamilton; 8 grandchildren, Theresa, Shannon and Colin Phipps, Leslie Evola and husband Nick of Detroit, MI, Kristen Schooler and husband Kevin of Missoula, Casie Kragh of Missoula, Cory Goodwin of Missoula, and Cougan Jones of Hamilton; and 6 great-grandchildren, Kendall Evola, Rowan, Violet and Lucy Schooler, Valen Kragh and Samaya Goodwin.

Visitation will be held on Monday, February 8, 2016 from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. at the Daly-Leach Chapel. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 9 at 1:00 P.M. at the First Christian Church in Hamilton with a reception following at the church. Burial will take place at Riverview Cemetery in Hamilton following the reception.