Donald Allen

Donald Allen was born in San Francisco on January 27, 1933, to parents Louise Marten Allen and William Allen. The family moved to Montana where he graduated in 1951 from Central Catholic High School in Anaconda, Montana. He grew up fly fishing the rivers and streams of Montana and came back most of his life in the summer to the Rockies to fish his childhood haunts. 

In 1958 he married Carol Rae Clinton, the love of his life in Montana. He met her while they both were in school, he at the University of Montana and Carol in nurses training at Warm Springs. 

A life-long Catholic, he was active in the Sacred Heart Parish in Tillamook for many years.

He served in the United State Air Force in the early 1950s, stationed in Alaska, later he joined the Air Force Reserve and was stationed in Tacoma, Washington with the 83rd and served until he retired in 1993 as a Chief Master’s Sergeant. His work for the Air Force involved loading of cargo on planes. Later his expertise was used for instructional activities involving the loading of aircraft cargo, particularly related to hazardous materials. He worked on developing safety protocols and training material for personnel, updating and revising training materials. He served on active duty during both the Korean War and Desert Storm. 

He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree at the University of Montana in education using the GI Bill and taught high school courses in the natural sciences, chemistry, and biology. He coached boy’s sports at various high schools in Oregon: Ontario, Hereford, St. Francis (Baker City), Regis (Stayton), and moved to Tillamook in 1973. His teams won several State championships in Football and Basketball, and district championships in Baseball, as well as Track and Field. With the creation of Title IX, he started coaching girl’s teams and experienced continued success in that arena. After coaching he served as an official for many sports and events in the state of Oregon.

Donald is survived by his three sons, Mike (Milwaukee, WI), James (Tillamook, OR), and Gary (Altadena, CA), his daughters-in-law, Susan Woolley, Nancy Burrell, grandchildren (Emily, Courtney, and John) and great granddaughter (Bonnie).