Shirley Marie Allen

Shirley Allen passed away on Tuesday, February 18th, 2025. Shirley was born in Torrington, WY, in her family home, to Vernon and Grace (Davis) Winkle on May 14th, 1936. Shirley was the youngest of the family and had two older sisters, Donna and Virginia. Shirley always had a strong connection to her father and always said her Daddy was her hero. In her later years living with Dementia, her cards from her sister Donna and their phone conversations, would light her face up with joy and their long-distance bond continued.

Shirley had four children with her first husband, Jim Easton. Her three sons Keith, Rodney, and Grant, and her daughter Kelly. There wasn’t a family gathering through most of the years where Shirley wasn’t making them all amazing meals and all of the favorites for the family. There was nothing more important to her than everyone getting together with lots of stories to tell and lots of laughter. She was blessed with the family to continue growing through the years adding grandchildren and lived long enough to learn the joy of having a five-generation legacy.

Shirley’s career path in life was being a very committed nurse. She started working as a nurse’s aide when her children were young. In the early 70’s she made the decision to start Nursing School with her two youngest children at home. As a single mom, she worked and studied hard to reach her goal as an LPN. She worked for the hospital and the nursing home in Scottsbluff, NE and loved what she did. When her father and stepmother entered into the nursing home in Torrington, WY, Shirley made the decision to go to work where they were to care for them. She stayed dedicated there until she later retired.

When she married John Allen, their mutual love in music, cooking, gardening and travel was such a joy for them. They made their yard a masterpiece to view and was featured in the local paper. They enjoyed it when the children and grandkids would show up and all sit together on the porch and talk for hours in Lyman, NE.

Shirley left the western Nebraska area after John’s passing. She moved to Palmyra, NE to be closer to her daughter in her later years. Shirley joined the Beautiful Savior Church in Palmyra. She quickly became active in the church, as well as volunteering with the local food pantry and at the nonprofit thrift store in Syracuse, NE. She also joined a quilting group. As Dementia set in, she moved in with her daughter. Every Wednesday, they called it girls’ night and they would be joined by her granddaughter Skylar and great-granddaughter Octavia and have dinner and would have some fun parties. Shirley was so blessed to have a family care for her to the end. Her daughter stayed home and worked and cared for her. Her granddaughter Skylar and her fiancé would assist in her care weekly. Shirley’s smile when any of her family and friends stopped by was contagious. And when her quick humor would still come out it was a blessing and another memory for those who loved her.

No matter where she was, Shirley made a friend. She maintained strong friendships going back to classmates in grade school. She loved people and she loved life. She considered everyone she was close to a gift.

Shirley is survived by and will be greatly missed by; her son Keith (Jennifer) Easton of Lusk, WY; Daughter Kelly Halvorsen of Bennet, NE; Sister Donna Eckland of Scottsbluff, NE; 7 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great children; and 1 great-great-great grandchild; as well as her many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sons Rod and Grant; husband John; and sister Virginia.

Memorials to her family for later designation. Ashes to be joined with her husband John at a later date.

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