Shirley Allen 1930-2025
Shirley Ann Allen, 95, of Valley Falls, passed away Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, at Kelly House in Meriden.
She was born Nov. 4, 1930, in St. Joseph, Mo., the daughter of Wesley Theodore and Rena Mae (Hammond) Arthur.
She attended school in St. Joseph, Mo., Kansas City, Mo., and Sioux City and LeMars, Iowa, before graduating from Valley Falls High School in 1948. She lived in Oregon from 1955 to 1969.
Shirley retired in November 1993 from the State of Kansas in the Kansas Corporation Commission Department after 24 years of service. She then worked part-time for the Valley Falls Vindicator for eight years.
She was a life member of Jefferson County Historical Society and Valley Falls Historical Society.
She married Morris Glenn Pence on Jan. 26, 1949. They divorced. She married Harold Seth Allen on Nov. 24, 1955. They also divorced.
Shirley is survived by her daughter, Linda Jane Bain (Steve) of Valley Falls; three grandchildren, Matthew Bain (Amanda), Carrie Belveal (Brian Slaton) and Katie Fisher (Justin); and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Wesley and Rena Arthur; two sons, Steve Wesley Pence and James Dean Pence; and two sisters, Linda Stansell and Rhesa Newman.
Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 9 at Mercer Funeral Home in Valley Falls. A private family burial will be held at a later date. Family will greet friends from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8 at the funeral home.
Memorials may be given to the Delaware Township Library, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
