Barbara Jean Allen

Barbara Jean Allen, 78, of Wamego, Kansas passed away Monday, January 30, 2012, at her home in Wamego. Barbara was born in Wamego, KS on November 19, 1933 to Joseph and Sarah Lucille Tucker-Enlow. She grew up and attended schools in Wamego. On October 20, 1950 she married Oliver Glenn Allen. Upon her graduation in 1951 they moved to Wichita, Ks. Glenn’s career eas in construction which allowed them to live in many cities across the states of Kansas, Colorado and Illinois. In 1959 they moved to the O-Lazy A ranch North of Alma, KS where they raised their children. Barbara was a stay-at-home mom until all her children started school. During their children’s pre-school years she actively helped her husband and father-in-law with the farming, cattle and hog operations. Her community involvements were many; she was a member of the HDU, a leader for the Girl Scouts of America and Happy Valley 4-H Club, taught Sunday school at the Methodist Church in Alma, KS and was a Democratic Party member. She was the Wabaunsee County Democratic Precinct Committee-Woman and campaign manager for her father-in-law, Oliver Prescott Allen when he ran for the Kansas House of Representatives. In 1961 she was employed by the United States Federal Government, Office of Civil Defense as a Crew Leader, which involved training employees and taking the Census on storm shelters and emergency preparedness; 1970-Crew Leader for the Census of Agriculture, overseeing 26 individuals in Riley, Geary, Wabaunsee, Jackson and Marshall counties. In the early 1970’s she was employed by the State of Kansas, as the Office Manager for Social and Rehabilitation Services for Wabaunsee and Pottawatomie Counties in Alma, Wamego and Topeka, Ks and from 1980-1983 she was an Underwriting Supervisor for Shand-Morahan Company, located in Evanston, Illinois. In 1991 Barbara and Glenn became fulltime campers spending the summers at Lake Melvern and the winters residing in Texas. She was an avid fisherman, oil painter, bowler and seamstress. She loved dancing and playing the piano and organ. Most memorable were the many cruises that her and Glenn ventured on. These took them to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, Panama Canal, Mexico and Hawaii. Most of all she loved her family and the many friends she met during her and Glenn’s travels. Barbara is survived by her two daughters: Cynthia Carley and husband Carroll of Wamego and Glenda Anderson-Kahler and husband Don of Olathe, KS; a son Oliver Bradley Allen, of Wamego; three sisters: Laura Crabs (Corky) of Manhattan, KS, Kay Olson and Mary Zeller-Koons (Steve) of Topeka, KS; four grandsons: Todd Carley (Pamela) of Olathe, KS, Thad Carley (Jean) of Wamego, Chad Anderson of Olathe, KS and Cody Anderson of Olathe, KS; five great-granddaughters: Jordan, Morgan, Tierney, Logan and Andie and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Sarah Lucille (Lucy) Tucker-Enlow; two older brothers, Bobby Joe and John Louis and her husband Glenn who died in 1999. Cremation has taken place and a graveside memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Friday, February 3, 2012 at Wamego City Cemetery with Rev. Leslye Haller officiating. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to the Pottawatomie County EMS or PRN Home HealthCare and Hospice and may be left in care of the Stewart Funeral Home, PO Box 48, Wamego, KS 66547.