Jerry Lee Allen

Jerry Lee Allen of Simla, Colorado, passed from this life to eternity on April 2, 2021. He was born on March 27, 1938, to James William Allen and Nellie Louise “Easton” Allen in Freedom, Nebraska. He was the 5th of 8 children. Jerry attended one room schools in Frontier County, Nebraska, until high school that he attended in Cambridge, Nebraska, graduating in 1955. The farm the family lived on was purchased to put in a reservoir, and they moved to another farm. After Jerry graduated, the family moved to southern Idaho. Jerry moved with them and worked on farms there. While there, he committed his life to Jesus Christ and felt called to be a pastor to rural churches. He went to Denver, Colorado, to attend Rocky Mountain Bible Institute. While there he met the love of his life, May Ann Allen. They were married August 1, 1959 and had a son Jerry Lee Allen II (thanks to Aunt Marilyn also known as Chip) in 1962. In the summer of 1962, Jerry and May Ann took their first pastorate in Hitchland, Texas. Although the town was in Texas, the Allens lived on the Oklahoma side of the state line which ran through town. It was while there a daughter Kimberly Ann was born in 1964. Shortly after her birth the family moved to Kendrick Bible Church in south west Lincoln County, Colorado. Dad had found his place in the world. Although he lived in different communities in the area, Lincoln and Elbert counties were where his heart was. In the summer of 1968, Jerry become the full-time pastor at Central Bible Church where he had been leading services for 3 years on Monday evenings. He drove the school bus for Simla school for 10 years to supplement his income. The Allens remained there until October of 1977 when they moved to Paonia but moved back home in June 1978. Jerry took the job of maintenance director at Simla school and moved into “town”. Jerry remained a resident of Simla until his death. Jerry was involved in starting a church in Simla after moving back. He later became pastor of Open Door Bible Church in Ellicott and gave that up later when May Ann’s health became poorer. Jerry then devoted all his time to her care until, with great reluctance, he placed her in the Good Samaritan in Simla. By then, he had retired from the school and from working part time at Ace Hardware in Calhan. After May Ann went to Good Samaritan, Central Bible Church asked him to come back as pastor where he remained until his passing. Jerry also did many visits to people’s home, to the hospitals, and nursing homes and served as chaplain for Lincoln County Hospice. He considered these visits as much as calling from God as his pastoring in country churches. He had a special gift of bringing comfort at funerals that he did. In his lifetime, he did over 500 funerals. He considered it special to have been involved in family’s lives to the point of doing weddings and funerals for 3 generations. Jerry pastored and visited with people until days before his death. His service will be April 10, 2021 at 2:00 pm in Simla at the school gym. He will be buried next to May Ann in the Simla Cemetery. Preceding him in death was his wife May Ann. Left to carry on his life lessons and memory are daughter Kim Allen, son Jerry “Chip” and his wife, Roberta, and his very special granddaughters Marie and Alice. Donations can be made to Simla High School OR Cross Roads Youth Groups In Care of Farmer State Bank PO Box 9, Calhan, CO. 80808