Betty Louise Allman
Betty Louise Allman, widow of Bob Allman of North Middletown, departed this life on Monday November 6, at her home with her family by her side. She was 93. Betty was born in Bourbon County on May 8, 1930, the daughter of the late John T. and Lucy Hash Carter.
She was a graduate of North Middletown High School, where she was a cheerleader. She had planned to study nursing, but gave up the idea when she met Bob. She and Bob owned and operated Clearview, the family farm, where they worked side by side, tending cattle, raising chickens, and transporting their eggs to Lexington. She was a Girl Scout troop leader with a troop that consisted mainly of her daughter Laura, and her cousins and friends
For a time in later years, Laura was the Assistant Curator of the Cane Ridge Shrine, but after 21 years, when she became too ill to work, Betty stepped in, and served in that post for the next 22 years. A lover of reading and of history, Betty served on the board of the Paris-Bourbon County Library and was one of the best customers of the bookmobile; she also was an early member of Historic Paris-Bourbon County, and served as a docent at Hopewell Museum.
She was also a devoted member of the North Middletown Church, where she served in every capacity from circle member to elder.
When both her daughter and her son-in law became ill, Betty cared for their daughter, her only grandchild, Erica Louise Minnick.
In later years, Betty herself experienced health issues, surviving two cancers, but always bouncing back. She was an independent woman who came late in life to the realization that she was a “cat person.” Erica had adopted two cats–Castiel and Gracie–and they became her loves and her comfort. When Erica moved away, the cats stayed.
Betty gave up her plan to be a nurse many years ago, but she was always caring for others and had a vast collection of friends. She was known as a “spitfire” with a sweet tooth and she loved the pies at Lil’s. She is survived by her granddaughter Erica (Caleb Pineur)Minnick; two nephews, Ron(Kathleen) Carter, Paris, and Stephen McKeehan, Boulder CO; a niece, Lucinda(Ralph) McKeehan, Long Island, NY, and a son-in-law, Steven Minnick, Clark Co.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Laura Louise Minnick; a sister, Pauline Carter McKeehan, and a brother, Marion Fithian Carter.
There will be a Celebration of Life for Betty Louise Allman on November 18 at 11:00 a.m. at the North Middletown Christian Church, where she was the oldest living member. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. before the service. The Rev. Stephanie Moon will officiate. Inurnment will follow in the North Middletown Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family suggest donations to the North Middletown Christian Church, Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 43, North Middletown, KY 40357, or the Cane Ridge Shrine, Inc. P.O. Box 26, Paris, Kentucky 40362-0026. www.hintonturner.com
