Marcia S. Allen

Mrs. Albert (Marcia S.) Allen, 81, of Morris, Ill., passed away peacefully Monday morning, Dec. 28, 2009, in Morris Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Morris.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009, in the First United Methodist Church in Morris, with the Rev. Scott McClellan officiating. A private family inurnment will be at a later date in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.

The family will receive friends following the memorial service in the church's Fellowship Hall, with a luncheon served by United Methodist Women.

Born Nov. 1, 1928, in Kankakee, Ill., she was the daughter of George H. and Grace L. (Burkard) Shimer. Educated in schools in Latham, Ill., she graduated from Latham High School with the Class of 1946 and from Millikin University in Decatur, Ill., with a bachelor's degree in education.

She married Albert J. "Jack" Allen Jr. on March 12, 1949, in the First United Methodist Church in Latham.

With her husband and family, she moved to Morris in 1967 to make their home. She was employed with Morris Elementary School Dist. 54 and then, for 17 years, with Saratoga Dist. 60C, retiring in 1989.

Mrs. Allen enjoyed playing bridge, birdwatching, gardening in her yard, and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Morris Woman's Club, Grundy County Retired Teachers Association, Order of Easter Star in Latham, ZTA sorority at Millikin University, and was a volunteer with Grundy Community Volunteer Hospice.

Surviving are three children, George (Carol) Allen of Visalia, Calif., Dr. James R. (Laurie) Allen of Morris, and Judi (Bill) Brown of Arlington, Texas; eight grandchildren, Robyn and James M. Allen, Morgan, Kirsten and Ali Brown, Albert J. Allen III, and Grace K. and Samuel L. Allen.

Also surviving are one sister, Alice Shimer of Lewiston, N.Y., and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, on April 24, 2004; and two sisters, Mary Shimer and Laetitia Lehn.

Memorial gifts can be directed to First United Methodist Church or Grundy Community Volunteer Hospice.

Condolences can be extended online to the family at www.ucdavisandsons.com.