Vera Lee Culley-Allen, age 90, of South Yarmouth, MA, passed peacefully on June 21, 2019. She was born in Evansville, Indiana to Ellsworth and Edith Knepper (Owens). Ms. Allen was the retired owner and private detective of Allen Investigation Services, a special officer of Barnstable County, and a retired beauty shop owner and licensed cosmetologist on Cape Cod.

Surviving family members include her two sons and their wives, Chester and Patricia Culley of Westminster, CO, Dorwin (“Gov”) and Lori Allen, of Marstons Mills, MA; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a sister, Darlene Botts (Knepper), of Birmingham, AL; ex-husband, Chester Culley; and preceded in death by ex-husband , Harold Allen, her parents, one brother, and one sister.

Vera lived in Indiana in her youth, attended a women’s Nazarene College, worked compassionately as an aide in a psychiatric hospital, as well as in a meat-cutting factory. She was raised in the Nazarene Church, and she enjoyed singing church hymns with a passion. It was in Evansville where Vera met her first husband, Chester Culley and gave birth to her first son, Chester III. They later moved on and she waitressed in New Mexico where she also sang on the radio. Vera moved on to California and sang in a night club, where she met her husband Harold Allen, and gave birth to her second son, Dorwin (“Gov”). She enjoyed singing to her sons and grandchildren.

When Vera moved to Cape Cod, she created Allen Investigation Services and was interviewed by the Cape Cod Times in an article entitled, “Lady Sleuth”. She worked on a variety of private cases, and was employed as a store detective for multiple businesses on the Cape. After an accident apprehending a suspect, Vera was unable to continue being a private detective, and attended a cosmetology program in her fifties. She then successfully opened her own business as a hairdresser and worked in a nursing home making others feel beautiful and special. Vera enjoyed people, and was known to have outrageously fun parties at her home. Vera continued singing until her last days in the nursing home, Cape Regency. She will be missed by all.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, July 10th from 10:00am to 11:00am. A memorial service will be held at 11:00am at Hallett Funeral Home, 273 Station Ave., South Yarmouth. A private family burial will follow.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to: Cure Alzheimer’s Fund at 34 Washington St. Suite 310, Wellesley, MA 02481.

Avraham and I will always remember Vera as a friend and neighbor when we lived in South Yarmouth. Rest in peace Vera.