Mary Jo “M.J.” Allen

Mary Jo "M.J." Allen, beloved mother, sister, and friend, passed away Monday, March 23, 2009 of bacterial meningitis.

M.J. and her two children, Emily and David Hoops, had just returned from what M.J. described as "the best week of my life." The three had spent a week in Mexico, part of the Shawnee Mission West High School senior trip.

Emily and David were always her first priority. As a former teacher, M.J. was strongly committed to their education, both in the classroom and beyond. The three traveled together extensively, and M.J. encouraged and supported their interests, whether it was Emily's horsemanship or David's baseball.

She was also a successful businesswoman. A Johnson County home builder, realtor, and developer, her most recent project was the Courts at Fairfield Village in Olathe. Other projects include the Villas at Parkside, and the Woods of Hidden Valley, both in Shawnee. She loved to create beautiful homes for the people with whom she worked.

M.J. was a generous soul…to her children and their friends and their parents; to her church, Unity of Overland Park; to her children's school, Shawnee Mission West; and to her community.

She is missed by her children, her adopted sisters, her associates, and her many, many friends.

Visitation and Funeral Service

A celebration of M.J.'s life will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 28 at the Unity Church of Overland Park, 10300 Antioch. Friends may gather from 7-9 p.m. Friday at the church.