Margaret Mary Allaman née Sayers

May 16th, 1961 — April 1st, 2026

Margie’s earnest care ran deep. Her relentlessly empathetic and supportive nature is a continual gift to those that knew her and she freely shared this gift with the world. Her family and friends were truly special to her and she lived for the moments spent in the company of loved ones. Her strength of spirit was contagious, and she believed that no obstacle was insurmountable.

Margie held dearly the time spent on vacations, holidays, and outings with her family. Whether on the beach or in the home, family time was always a priority for her and she cherished these moments endlessly. Margie’s friends and family know her for her creativity, resourcefulness and ability to innovate, and that her love for those dear to her was in everything she did.

Margie was as loving as she was intelligent. She spent 30+ combined years using these gifts in research laboratories to advance the study of gastroenterological pathologies at the University of Iowa and completed her career at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN.

Margie was diagnosed with Extrapulmonary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (epNEC), a very rare and aggressive form of cancer, in late 2024. She was determined from the beginning to do everything in her power to treat and overcome this illness. Her friends and family were an invaluable wealth of strength and support throughout these difficult times. On April 1st of 2026 Margie crossed over the threshold of this world in peace, verily surrounded and well-loved by the people she lived for in life.

She is preceded in death by her mother Myrna Sayers née Kauchak and her father Robert Sayers. She is survived by her husband John Allaman, her children Heather and Luke Allaman, and her siblings Jane DeNuys, Peter Sayers, Sally Epperson, and Mary Arvanitis.

As As a testament to her many passions, the family requests memorials be made in her name to the Nashville Zoo for their renowned Clouded Leopard Breeding Program, The Healing NETS Foundation for Neuroendocrine Cancer advocacy, or the Temple of Kinship offering free-to-attend retreats for people with Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer.

She will be remembered by her big smile and her infectious sense of humor. The love that inspired her life each day lives on in the hearts she’s touched

https://www.nashvillezoo.org/?form=FUNMEWCJFJW

https://thehealingnet.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/thehealingnet/donation.jsp

https://www.templeofkinship.org/support#donate