My mom and me had an interesting relationship. Sometimes we were best friends. Sometimes we were partners in crime.  Sometimes we were two ships lost in a storm. It just depended on the day and point in time of life we were in.  What mattered the most is that no matter what the circumstances, we were there for each other. When I was young, and even when she was older, I proudly held her hand. Never embarrassed.  We were friends.  Momma loved life, lived for the day.  I worried about everything, and worried about the future. That caused a lot of conflict in our life. As different as we were on the philosophy of life, we loved, we counted on each other. She counted on me, and I on her. There was never a time that I couldn’t pick up the phone for whatever reason. She was always there, no matter the time or the day. She gave me the love of horses.  We rode every weekend long after high school. She gave me the love of growing up in the country. We loved going to the Stock Show, Horse Sales, Cheyenne Frontier Days, and Kris Kristofferson concerts.  During one Kris Kristofferson concert, mom made her way up to the front to take a picture. Bouncers were grabbing her arm, trying to pull her back, and every step of the way, she managed to get away from them. I stayed back silently rooting her on. I was totally in dismay and worried, but at the same time, admiring her every step of the way. She made it back to our seats.  She was laughing and acting like it was just another day in the life of Shirley. (And yes, by the way, we got some great pictures.) It was that spirit that she had that made people want to be around her, that made people laugh, and enjoy the present. She gave me challenges in life that prepared me for reality. She gave me so much more than most mothers. My friends loved her. She was understanding. Sometimes she even gave them a hard lesson that both me and my sister are familiar with.  It was out of love, and sometimes it was pure oneryness.  She loved the shock factor.  Rather it be scaring someone into submission or just watching them shake.  She loved being in control. She loved laughing, sometimes at our expense. Growing up with mom was not for the faint of heart. As much as she was different from my friend’s mom’s, I was lucky.  She taught me defiance.  She taught me self-sufficiency.  She gave me confidence.  She stood by me in what I thought were my darkest days and showed me how to get back up again. It wasn’t always with a gentle word, sometimes it was more like a boot in the ass. I appreciated that… perhaps not at the time, but I learned.  And at the end of the day isn’t that what life is all about. You fall, you get up and you learn.  She loved her grandchildren, perhaps more than her own children.  We joked about that. She would always say that she did her job, and having grandchildren gave her the ability to enjoy instead of being a hard ass… that was our job now.  She often scolded me if she thought I was being too hard on my kids. I sat there, blinking in dismay at her grace for her grandchildren and even sometimes arguing my point.  Regardless, I look back… these last 3 months were tough.  She didn’t make things easy, for herself or for me.  But that was her way. She went out fighting, for what I’m not sure.  For her family, or anyone that’s ever known her, remember the blood that runs through your veins.  Never give up.  Fight for yourself, or your cause.  Just never give up.  She’s watching, and she’s proud of what she’s left behind.  Now I’m taking a breath, and I wonder if it will hit me that I’ve lost my confidant, or if this was just part of her preparation for taking the next step in my life.  For now, I do know that she’d truly want us to remember that she just beat us there. She always wanted to be first.

Eulogy for Shirley Allen:

I’m Bill Nicholson, a friend of Shirley for the past 12 years. I am also Post Chaplain at VFW Post 7945, where a Celebration of Life for Shirley will be held following this service. This morning, we’re giving final earthly tribute to Shirley Allen, born October 26, 1934,
and passed on to the Lord this August 19th. I first got to know Shirley and her late husband, Don, via Shirley’s daughter, Kim, in 2011 when Kim and I were on staff at Sun Microsystems. Shirley, Don. and I formed a quick and enjoyable friendship as we were basically in the same age bracket as seniors and had similar life perspectives, including spiritual outlook. Don and I were both veterans, so our chats often short-changed Shirley, but she never complained. Reading Shirley’s accomplishments, I realized that it was my loss that she didn’t share more during those visits. For example, I didn’t know she had held several high managerial levels in her professional career until I read her obituary. I also read that Shirley was an independent-vibrant woman (that I knew) but did learn that she had enjoyed horseback riding and attending Stock Shows before our acquaintance. As I got to know Shirley more, I realized that she was not one to boast of herself. But she did boast of her two daughters, three granddaughters, and her grandson. Shirley also had six great-grandchildren. I now attribute it all to the fact that Shirley was born and raised in the tiny, but significant northeastern Colorado town of Grover. I will explain how Grover was significant in Shirley becoming an independent-vibrant woman. Grover, Colorado - 2020 Census population 157, mostly rural and I don’t think there is a single traffic signal in town, It had a high population of 195 in the 1920 Census. In 1934, when Shirley was born, it had a population of approximately 165. More significantly had recently had a female Mayor and an all-female town board. 
That unique all-female town board significantly reduced the town’s civic debt, which no all-male board had ever accomplished. Women had been prominent in Grover from its early beginnings in the late 1880s and throughout the Great Depression of the ‘30s and WW2 days in the ‘40s. Grover, originally known as “Point of Rocks”, was renamed after Dolly Grover (maiden name), owner of the Donovan homestead which housed the first Post Office in the area, one which is still in operation without ever having a closure, but in a newer building. Dolly reportedly was the first white woman to live in the area, although several white men had frequented the area since the 1860’s on cattle drives. Thus, Grover became significant in the cattle industry and rodeo
history. The area was a natural stopover for cattle drives to/from Texas/Wyoming. The Point of Rocks was a visual reference in the vast high prairie grasslands. The Earl Anderson Memorial Rodeo
has been held annually since 1923 and is one of the smallest officially sanctioned events in the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association, fondly known as the “Biggest Little Rodeo in the West”. Therefore, easy to see how Shirley became an independent-vibrant woman, fond of horseback riding and Stock Shows. She grew up in an era and area where women were prominent, independent, and vibrant. Also, an area where ranching and farming were typically the day-day routine activities. After Don passed away, I maintained regular visits with Shirley, mostly because we had become friends, and we were brother and sister in God’s family.

I met Shirley in 1977 in Erie and became friends with her daughter Kim, who was never far from Renee.  Many years later Kim and I coached her and Rick's daughters in softball. Shirley was a pistol and you had to always be prepared for one of her spicy comments, but she loved it when you held your own. I always looked forward to our softball game nights because I got to throw around some verbal nonsense with Shirley and Don. Wonderful, tough lady that I had very much respect for...miss you already, ken

I am going to miss Shirley.  She is only a few weeks older than me and we grew up together. We were best friends and did everything together.  Once in high school we ditched and went to Cheyenne. Had a lot of fun.  Took a picture in jail with Bob and Larry.  Went into stores and tried on dresses, didn't buy anything, we didn't have any money.  One night we rolled Don's car and expected  him to yell at us but he never said anything to us. I am sure he was mad, I would have been. Watched her marry Norman. Didn't see her marry Emmet but I would  see her at the dance when he played. Rest in peace and tell my family that I miss them.  You get to see all your family again. Love and miss you. 

I wrote a condolence..but not sure if I did it right. So.. doing again! I have to say goodbye to a friend. I was in the unique position of caring for Shirley for a few years. We laughed at eachother, and listened to life's problems each of us had. We talked about, death, life, and God, as I had lost my mom, last November. Many of these talks were intense, but...knowing she was at the end of life( and me not far behind) it was of great interest to her. She told me she prayed every night . I am sad for Kim, and her family as Shirley was NEVER boring...And always up for a good time. I will miss her laugh...and her heart. I even will miss her morning grumpy face!  I believe our lives were meant to cross paths, and I will see her again...on the other side ..where Angel's watch over her, and guide her now. God bless and my truly heartfelt Condolences to Kim, and family! ✝️💜💙✝️

I will truly miss you and love you forever aunt Shirley. One of her best traits was she could always make me laugh.  She would generally make me laugh so hard I would cry and my stomach would hurt from all the laughter.  Between her and my dad Marv, her brother whenever they were together the fun and laughter never ended. They both had a wicked sense of humor.  They will both be missed but are together again.  

OBITUARY

Shirley Ann Allen

October 26, 1934 – August 19, 2023

Olinger Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery - Highland

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