Marva Shorey Allison 

Marva Allison 

Marva moved to Powell, Wyoming, from Casper, Wyoming, after marrying James S. Allison. They had one biological son, Derek James Allison, and one son adopted from South Korea, Scott William Allison. Marva was also blessed with a granddaughter, Raelynn Aurora Allison who just turned 9 years old. 

Marva was first and foremost a mother to her sons. She actively participated in their academic activities and programs, volunteering in their schools and classrooms. She was also an incredibly hard and humble worker who would have sacrificed the shirt off her back to a total stranger if they needed it. The community grew to know her, especially the regulars who came through the drive thru at McDonald's. She was more than likely the first friendly face you would encounter before receiving your order.

Marva had a heart for service and continued this past retirement volunteering at HeadStart as a foster grandparent. She loved teaching and helping every child she interacted with on a daily basis. She once said that HeadStart gave her life purpose and a reason to get out of bed in the morning. That's just the kind of woman she was. 

Marva can also be described as a realist, wanting to teach her sons the realities of the world they will inhabit and eventually contribute to. She was a very intellectual individual with a degree in elementary education. She was extremely passionate about animals and adored every one of her pets throughout the years, building an everlasting bond that transcends the rainbow bridge they cross.

Marva had an infectious and contagious smile that would brighten any room or mood. She loved watching her favorite talk shows, Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Phil. When the stations stopped airing the episodes she tried and failed learning how to stream them on Wi-Fi. She was an old soul, a baby boomer, one who cherished the simplicity of the past, with no reason to keep up with the rapid evolution of the world's advances. In short, she was technologically illiterate. She would prefer snail mail over Gmail, land lines over smartphones, and a face-to-face interaction over FaceTime any day. 

Our mother didn't always have an easy life, but the one thing she demonstrated through her living actions was that it doesn't matter what the starting line looks like, as long as you're progressively writing new chapters in your book of life. The exact time and moment of someone's passing will always be unknown to us, and in the grand scheme of it all we get to choose what we remember about that person. She always wanted to be remembered as “a tough ole bird” like her grandmother. 

Our mother wasn't perfect by any means, but she showed us that imperfection was still worthy of meaning. She had a uniqueness and perspective on life that appreciated the subtle blessings most would ignore. And lastly, she was a woman of love, she loved unconditionally, with the entirety of her heart. She was a God-fearing woman, who relied heavily on her faith in times of trials and uncertainty. We honor and celebrate the life of our mother Marva Allison.