Vannessa Watterson Allen Obituary (1947 - 2016)

Vannessa Watterson Allen passed away February 3, 2016 at McKay Dee Medical Center with her family by her side. She was born November 20, 1947 in Bakersfield, California to Claude and Dessia Martin Watterson Phillips. She was raised by her mother and her Step-Father George Phillips.She grew up in Bakersfield, California where she attended elementary, junior and Bakersfield High School.Vannessa was a very accomplished Artist and was self-taught. She shared her love of art by teaching many people to paint and do art work. She started by opening an art store and studio in Alaska and then traveled all over the United States to study and teach others. Her Native American heritage was the inspiration to many of her art pieces.She loved to go camping and fishing and was a very well read person. If she wanted to know something she would get book and read up on whatever it was. In addition to her art, she loved to do bone, gourd and antler carving and spending time with her family and especially her grandchildren. She was also known to be “The Diva” to her family land friends and “Glamma” to her loving grandchildren.She is survived by her daughters: Shawntam Hart (Kurt), Monique Swift, Angialique Allen; 5 Grandchildren: Keaton, Sydney, Skyler, Kayla and Kohl. She is also survived by her siblings: Curtis Watterson (Jolene), Illena McClure (Chuck) and Kevin Phillips. She was preceded in death by her Parents and Step Father, her infant son Shaun and Brother Dennis.