Beech Tree News Network

Shirley Allen is a name that is well known throughout our county.  Many people recognize her from her faith, her volunteerism, and her work at Morgantown Care and Rehab. With her strong, beautiful vibrato, her voice has also been recognizable as the local emcee for several events within Butler County for years.  For her place in the community this year she was chosen as the Grand Marshall for the 2016 Christmas parade.  On Saturday, December 3rd, Shirley Allen was escorted in the parade by Chaplin Derek Cain in a white Corvette. 

Originally from Warren County, Shirley met the love of her life, Woody Allen while attending college at Western Kentucky University. When speaking with her for this article, Shirley said: “As far as I’m concerned he was the best to pick from and still is.” After marrying, they began to build their life together in Butler County and Shirley started to become active in the community around 1968.   While helping Woody campaign for office, Shirley met many people from the county and developed a large network of friends and fans.   For years she was the emcee for the Gilstrap Community Pie Supper.  This event has since named their famous cake walk “Shirley’s Cake Walk” due to the several years that Shirley helped organize that event. Shirley has always worked the beauty pageant circuit as emcee in our county, as well as announcing the events at the yearly BCHS Calendar Girl event.  In 1975, Shirley took the job as activities director of Morgantown Care and Rehab and worked there until her retirement.
When asked how she was able to stay active in everything she did and stay so busy, Shirley advised that she never made a decision that she didn’t pray about for guidance before agreeing to accept.  I attended church with Shirley at New Liberty Missionary Baptist while growing up in the Gilstrap area.  Shirley orchestrated every Christmas play that we had.  She organized everything from assigning parts, managing scripts, finding props, to scheduling practices.  She also was my Sunday school teacher and active in the lady’s WMU at church. She has always managed to be able to juggle her roles as a wife and working mother with grace and professionalism.    When I was little, I always looked up to Shirley because she was such an educated, strong, independent woman that held firmly to her Christian beliefs. Even though I am no longer a child, I still hold a high regard and deep respect for Mrs. Shirley Allen.