Mary Allen

Mrs. Mary Lou Allen, died peacefully on February 11th at St Vincent's Hospital following a short illness. Mrs. Allen was born on May 9, 1920, in Greenup, KY, the daughter of Elta and Earl Kotcamp. After graduation from Morehead College in KY, she taught third grade. She married C. Paul Allen in 1947 and they lived in Lexington, KY until 1967 when they moved to Birmingham, where Mr. Allen's company did much of the bridge work on the Alabama Interstate system. In 1982 the Allens co-founded the Hoover Public Library and Mary Lou later served as President of the Friends of the Library. She received the Flora Mae Pike Community Service Award in 1992 and the Alabama Library Association Humanitarian Award in 1997. She was a Library Board Member for more then 20 years and was named Board Member Emeritus in 2005. The city of Hoover passed a proclamation in her honor that same year. Mary Lou was a quiet and unassuming woman, whose contributions to the founding of the Hoover Public Library are well known. Mary Lou was a member of the Star Lake Garden Club, the Hoover Study Club, the Hoover Historical Society, and Aldridge Gardens. She was also a proud non-sewing member of the Lunch Bunch Sewing Club. She belonged to the Greenup Christian Church for 89 years and is a current member of the Oakmont Presbyterian Church. She is preceded in death by her husband of 37 years, C Paul Allen, a brother, Earl Kotcamp, Jr. and her son-in-law, Barry Cohn. She is survived by her children, Paula Cohn, Paul Allen Jr. (Donna), Wayne Allen (Tori), and Ann Allen as well as five grandchildren, Jessica Klinger (Barry), Loren (Virginia), and Kaden Allen and Michael and Catherine Shell. She is also survived by her brother, Dr. Wayne Kotcamp, and many nieces and nephews. Her first great grandchild, Paul Curtis Allen, was born in October. The family will receive friends on Monday, February 14, 2011 from 1 to 2 p.m. at Currie-Jefferson Funeral Home. Funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Richard Brooks officiating. Interment will be in Greenup, KY on February 16. If you wish to honor her memory please support the Hoover Public Library.