Wilma Allen died peacefully at home in Clinton at the age of 88 on Nov. 14, 2007. Her daughter, Roxie, was holding her hand as she silently left her earthly home.

She will be remembered for her love of animals, especially horses and cats, and of the great outdoors; for influencing and encouraging each of her children and grandchildren to receive a good education and to be self-reliant; for her hard work; and for being a caring and giving mother, wife, grandparent, and great grandparent. Her honesty and guidance were appreciated and admired by her friends and family.

Wilhelmina Ann Cooke was born on March 29, 1919 in the upstairs of the local meat market in Martinsdale, Mont. She was the third of three children and was raised on the family dude ranch near Augusta, Mont. Hunting, fishing and ranching were a big part of her youth and were always fondly remembered.

She graduated from Augusta High School where she boarded during the week and returned to the ranch on weekends and holidays, weather permitting.

After graduation she moved with her parents, Fernando Micheal Cook(e) and Pauline Anna Mitchell to Ronan, Mont. via horseback and a horse-pulled wagon. Here, she lived on a small ranch and worked for a photographer. A few years later Wilma moved to Wallace, Idaho, where she met and married James Buchanan (Bud) Nowlin.

She and Bud owned the City Meat Market until 1966 when Bud passed away. Their three children, Rodney James Nowlin, Roxie Fern Davis and Roy Albert Nowlin, were raised in Wallace and helped with the family business in Nine Mile. Wilma was active in building and repairing fences, raising piglets, riding horses, cutting meat and learning animal husbandry to keep hundreds of animals healthy to support the business.

After Bud’s death, Wilma worked as a bookkeeper for English Plumbing and General Telephone and then met and married Roscoe (Dick) Richard Allen.

In 1991, Wilma and Roscoe moved to Whidbey Island to escape shoveling the deep snows of the then Northern Idaho winters. Here they built their home on acreage enough for Wilma to pasture her horse. Roscoe passed away in November 2004.

Wilma will be greeted in heaven by her two husbands, her parents and her brothers, Fern Mitchell Cook(e) and Prescott Ely Cook(e). She is survived by her three children and two step-daughters, Dixie Ekker and Nancy Ogden and each of their spouses: Rebecca Nowlin, James Davis, Merrilee Nowlin, Roy Ekker and Jim Ogden.

Wilma was the matriarch to an extended family that included a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A graveside service was held Nov. 20 at Shoshone Memorial Garden Cemetery in Pinehurst, Idaho.