Susan Parkhurst-Allen was born November 13, 1943 in the Vermont/New York area. She was adopted by Leo and Etta Shierand and was an only child. Susan was raised in Montreal, Canada where she attended school until the age of fourteen where she went to boarding school in Vermont. Susan graduated from a private school and at the age of sixteen she enrolled in a four-year college in Montreal where she majored in English and history. Shortly after, she married her first husband in Texas, Igor Derevjagin, who she met while attending school. Together Igor and Susan had four kids, two boys and two girls. They raised their children in Connecticut and Vermont and eventually divorced. Susan took her children to California to go back to school for nursing. When the cost of living got too high in California, she moved to Colorado where one of her daughters resided. This ended up being one of the best decisions she ever made as that was where she met the love of her life, her second husband, James Edward Allen.
Susan met James at the convenience store they both frequented for coffee. After being introduced they exchanged numbers and talked for several weeks before going on their first date. They danced to country western all night until the bar closed, and the rest is history. Susan and James married in Colorado shortly after. James was born and raised in Texas and had four children from a previous marriage as well. James had many jobs in his life as an oil field worker, salesman, business owner, crane operator and more. His work as a crane operator led him to Blair, Nebraska where he worked at Cargill for 20 years. James enjoyed fishing and hunting while Susan loved to shop. They enjoyed spending their time together and with their grandchildren. Susan stated one of the things she loved most about Jim was his generosity and huge heart. He loved all her family like his own and she cherished every moment spent with him until his passing on January 1st, 2022, after 27 years of marriage.
Susan had eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and three children that live in other states and a son that lived close to her but passed away in 2009. Susan passed peacefully, comfortably and loved, under palliative care in Omaha, NE on May 25, 2024. Graveside services will be held at a later date.
Susan was charismatic, strong-willed, witty and very compassionate. She loved and cherished all her grandkids and had an especially close relationship with her first great granddaughter Aaliyah. Memories made with “Bubby” will be held onto forever and she will be missed greatly. She was truly one of a kind!
Susan is survived by her son Dean Cunliffe; granddaughters: Chelsea Bilyk and Cheyenne Cockrell; great grandchildren: Aaliyah Bilyk and Alexander Derevjagin Jr III. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband James Edward Allen, son Alexander Derevjagin and step son Jimmy Allen Jr.
Arrangements by Campbell Aman Funeral Home, Blair. www.campbellaman.com
