Sherrill Glenn-Allen

Sherrill Glenn-Allen—painter, poet, and composer—passed away on July 2, 2018, surrounded by her loving family. Sherrill was born in Saint Anthony Hospital, OKC, on June 9, 1936. Her excellent parents were Vernon Harry and Laloise (McGee) Wright. From a young age, Sherrill had a sensitive and eccentric artist’s temperament. She grew up improvising at the piano and exploring the flora and fauna of her parents’ acreage with her beloved sister Karen. Sherrill always loved to write, and in high school she served as editor of the school newspaper. Sherrill believed in lifelong learning. She earned two degrees from UCO—a B.A. in sociology (1962) and an M.Ed. in Counseling and Guidance (1972)—followed by an M.S.W. from OU (1989). For most of her career, she worked as a school counselor, psychometrist, and psychologist for the Enid Public School system. She also served for several years as Principal of the Cherokee Park School, a special education school located on the campus of the former Enid State School for the Mentally Retarded. In order to pursue her many interests, Sherrill retired early (age 55) and never looked back. In 1993, she followed Bill Clinton to Washington and spent two years as a White House volunteer opening the president’s mail. While she saw the Clintons only from a distance, she had frequent opportunities to pet Socks the cat! In 1995, she came out of retirement for several years to do important work for FEMA as a counselor to victims of the Oklahoma City bombing. Sherrill had two daughters—Abra (born 1959) and Raina (born 1963). She instilled in them an appreciation for the arts, nature, and the importance of hard work. As a senior, she very much enjoyed her five lively grandchildren—Julian, Olivia, Elena, Luciana, and Abraham. She seldom missed a grandchild’s ballgame, recital, concert, party, school play, church picnic, or you-name-it event. In childhood, Sherrill attended the First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City with her family. In later life, she returned to the church and participated in the music program, adult education classes, and most especially, her beloved poetry group! As a senior, Sherrill also became very active at the Woodson Park Senior Center where she took painting and writing classes and made many friends. Sherrill is survived by her two daughters and their spouses Abra Figueroa (Pedro) and Raina Pelofsky (Stan), her five grandchildren, and her sister, Karen Hutchison. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Music Program of the First Unitarian Church of OKC. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 7th, 2018, at the First Unitarian Church, 600 NW 13th St, Oklahoma City.