Shirley Allen, 89, passed away Monday, August 21, 2023 in Canadian.
Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday Aug. 26, 2023 at River Church in Canadian, with Donald Hill officiating. Burial will be at the Edith Ford Cemetery in Canadian after the service. Cremation arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home, Inc. of Perryton.
Shirley was born Nov. 24, 1933 in Canadian, to Claude and Jewell Jones. She was raised in Canadian and graduated from Canadian High School. While growing up she loved any and everything that involved horses and actively participated in barrel racing.
After high school Shirley attended Texas Tech University where she continued barrel racing and was a member of the Texas Tech Rodeo Team. Following her time at Texas Tech she attended the Caruth School of Dental Hygiene at Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, where she was a member of the first graduating class. In 1956, while in hygiene school she married Zoel Glen Allen.
After graduation, the young couple moved to Perryton, where they built and established a dental and dental hygiene practice. The couple had three children: Z., Rachel and Ashley, whose care and upbringing then became her primary focus. She was a wonderful mother and encourager and was very involved in her children’s lives.
She was not only a mother to her three kids, but to countless others, serving many roles as host, cook, taxi driver and counselor. She hauled her kids and their friends to more rodeos and ski trips than could be counted.
She was always lots of fun and enjoyed snow skiing, the mountains, good music, dancing and anything that had to do with horses. She was forever quick with a smile and a laugh, never met a stranger and always found the best in everyone.
Survivors include two sons, Dr. Z. Allen and wife Kim of Comanche, and W. Ashley Allen and wife Timmi of Canyon; a daughter, Rachel Clapp and husband Brent of Canadian; 10 grandchildren: Dr. Trey Allen, Bri Rourke, Kiki Stancer, Matt Allen, Molly Allen, Brandon Davis, Bailee Barnes, Rider Clapp, Rangle Clapp, and Range Clapp; seven greatgrandchildren and two nieces and one nephew.
Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Larry and Tom Jones, and two greatgrandsons.