SHirley S. (Lewis) Allen

Scarborough, ME - Shirley S. Allen, 93, passed away July 4, 2019 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, Maine.  She grew up in Alfred, Maine and was a longtime resident of Gardiner, Maine until she moved to the Portland area in 1999.  She lived in Westbrook until she moved to Gorham House in early 2018 where she lived the remainder of her life.  

She was born to the late William and Helen Lewis on February 2, 1926, in Newark, New Jersey.  Shirley graduated as valedictorian from Alfred High School in 1944 and received her nursing degree from Deaconess Hospital in 1947.

Shirley worked for over 45 years as an RN.   She spent the majority of her nursing career at Gardiner General Hospital from which she retired at age 70.  She also worked short stints at Johns Hopkins, Goodall Hospital and Togus. 

After her retirement, she volunteered at the Maine State Museum fulfilling her love of history along with her love of people.

She was a long time member of South Parish Congregational Church in Augusta until she moved to the Portland area. She joined Prides Corner Congregational Church in Westbrook becoming very active in the Ladies Guild.

Shirley had a love of sewing, knitting, crocheting and quilting and family members were often the recipients of her beautiful wall hangings and quilts.  

She is survived by her sisters, Roberta Goodwin (Pleasant Hill, TN) and Mary Stacey (Parsonsfield, ME), her children Joseph Cook (Susan), Sarah Allen and Rebekah Groves, her grandchildren Meghan Jones (Brian), Ashley Brown, Andrew Brown and Barbara Morin, great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

The family thanks the staff at the Gorham House for the wonderful care they provided during her stay there the past 18 months. 

A service will be held at Prides Corner Congregational Church, Westbrook, Maine on Saturday, July 27, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. 

Shirley’s final resting place will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Alfred, Maine.