Jan Evans (Komara) (1969)

Allyson was my best friend for many years.  We actually met in jr. high (Watkins) - played together, skied together (she was  really excellent, could dry start and slalom like a professional), walked in an out of each others' houses as family, later dated friends so we could double, went to college as roommates, and joined the same sorority.  She was witty, quirky, kind and compassionate, and was a loving, loyal friend.  Allyson met her husband because I happened to be sitting next to him (assigned seats) at convocation our freshman year of college (FL Southern); she took one look at him and made me change seats for the rest of the year.. . . and history was made!   I know that they were happy, had two beautiful children - Daivd, Jr. and Kaylin - and that Allyson loved her family dearly and was very involved in her community in Oviedo.  The year before she passed away, I had just moved back from Colorado, and we spent a girls' weekend with her daughter and my two girls.  She confided then that she had brain cancer and that she was beginning to struggle, but she did fight the fight with people around her who loved and supported her.  I was crying too hard to be able to drive the  125 miles to get to her funeral - had to stop midway.  Two weeks later, David drove to Sarasota to help me find closure. and I am very sure that Applebees was very relieved when we left because we sat there and quietly cried for over 2 hours. To this day, I miss her.  Was recently in contact Kaylin who provided the picture that is posted above.