Clear, 57° F
(June 12, 1945 - Jan. 30, 2014)
Carole D. Allen, 68, of Cody, died at Spirit Mountain Hospice House on Jan. 30, 2014, surrounded by loving family.
Carole was born June 12, 1945, to Glen and Keitha Wilbanks in Ottumwa, Iowa. She graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1963.
During her senior year, Carole held a job at a local attorney’s office. After graduation she took the Civil Service test, passed and got a job at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch, Iowa.
In 1966 Carole married Daniel W. Estes and shortly after moved to Golden, Colo. From this union came two children, son Chad and daughter Wendy.
While in Colorado, she was employed with General Services Administration in surplus sales and then the Bureau of Mines. In 1978 Carole and her family moved to Cody, where they owned and operated the K-Z Guest Ranch for five years. Soon after, Carole returned to government work, with the Bureau of Land Management in Cody.
In 1990, Carole married her soulmate Forrest R. Allen. She retired from the BLM and enjoyed life on the farm, growing beautiful flowers, tending to the vegetable gardens, and taking the time to kick back in a lawn chair and read a book. Carole and Forrest enjoyed traveling together, from camping to going out East, or going abroad. A trip to Hawaii and a European trip were a couple of favorites that she would often talk about. There were also many trips to Iowa and Wisconsin to visit with family and friends. Carole and Forrest loved to play cards and it was during these visits there were some pretty serious card games.
Carole had four grandchildren who she absolutely adored and would do anything for. Christmas was Carole’s favorite time of year; the kitchen would be overflowing with goodies, the house decorated throughout and mounds of gifts for giving.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Glen and Keitha Wilbanks and brother-in-law, Ronald Neal.
Carole is survived by husband Forrest R. Allen; son Chad (Denise) Estes of Palmer, Alaska; daughter Wendy (Mike) Capps of Cody; grandchildren Zach and Amanda Capps and Kane and Daniel Estes; sister Patricia Neal of Ottumwa, Iowa; brother Austin (Pat) Wilbanks of Grimes, Iowa and brother-in-law Irwin Allen of Ryegate, Mont.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 7, at Ballard Funeral Home, 636 19th St. in Cody. Private family memorial and interment is planned for a later date.
