Mourners: World's Tallest Woman Kind, Generous

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. -- Sandy Allen, the 7-foot-7 woman recognized as the world's tallest female, was remembered by mourners at her funeral Monday for her kindness and generosity.

More than 200 people attended the service for Allen at Town & Country Church. More people lined the streets of her central Indiana hometown as the funeral procession went to the downtown circle. Her casket was then placed on a horse-drawn carriage to travel about a mile to Forest Hill Cemetery for burial.

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2004 Slideshow: World's Tallest Woman

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Allen died Wednesday at age 53. She had been hospitalized in recent months as she suffered from a recurring blood infection, along with diabetes, breathing troubles and kidney failure.

Allen appeared on many television shows and spoke to church and school groups over the years, using her height to inspire schoolchildren to accept those who are different.

"She was pure, just genuine and just so giving," friend Bonnie Shehan said outside the church Monday. "If she had nothing, she'd find something to give you."

Allen weighed just 6.5 pounds when she was born in June 1955. By age 10, she had grown to 6 feet 3 inches tall and to 7 feet 1 inch by age 16 as a tumor caused her pituitary gland to produce too much growth hormone. She underwent an operation in 1977 to stop further growth.

She was struggling with how tall she was when she wrote to Guinness World Records in 1974, saying she would like to get to know someone her own height. Guinness for years had recognized her as the world's tallest living woman.

Friends told 6News last week that Allen had a positive outlook that stayed with her until the end.

"Growing up being that tall, she obviously got some ridicule. She always took it in stride, never ill-tempered. She was a real nice person, she really was," said Tim Turner, who went to school with Allen.

Many of her mementos and specialty-sized clothing are expected to be auctioned off, with proceeds going to Allen's education foundation.