Clear, 49° F
(Oct. 30, 1929 - Nov. 23, 2015)
Jack E. Allen, 86, of Cody died Nov. 23, 2015, in Powell.
He was born Oct. 30 1929, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, the day after the stock market crash in 1929.
He spent his young years in Tie Siding, Hanna and Medicine Bow as the son of railroad telegrapher parents in southern Wyoming. He had many tales of herding sheep at Saratoga, one-room schools, misadventures and watching trains go through Walcott Junction.
He served with the USAF in Germany as Staff Sergeant. He received the National Defense Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Occupation Medal (Germany). After active duty, he returned to Wyoming and worked in the oil fields for Ohio Oil Co., in the McFadden area, before he was transferred to Cody. Ohio Oil later became Marathon Oil, where he worked in Oregon Basin Field for the remainder of his oil patch career. He retired from Marathon as the South End production foreman.
Retirement didn’t suit him, so he returned to the oil patch at 70 years old as an independent contractor.
Jack was an avid outdoorsman, hunting, guiding, fishing and camping. He taught the love of this lifestyle to his children and grandchildren. He also made custom spurs and bits and was a member of the Eagles, the Oddfellows and the Elks lodges.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Peggy J. Allen who was also a partner in his position as Commander of the VFW Post 2673 Commander from 1996-2001 and District 1 Commander 1998-2002; by his brothers Ronald and Thomas Allen and his parents and grandparents.
He is survived by his wife Darleen Allen of Cody; sons Jay Allen and William “Bill” (Helen) Allen of Cody; daughter Nora Lynn (Gary) Lyon of Cheyenne, and Missy (George) Schofield of Hysham, Montana; six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and a soon expected great-great-granddaughter. He is also survived by stepsons, Ken (Virginia) Hazlitt of Sterling, Colorado; Dean (Lynette) Hazlitt, and Jim Hazlitt all of Cody; along with children, grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
Memorial donations may be offered to the Alzheimer’s Association Wyoming Chapter, 2232 Dell Range Blvd, Suite 220, Cheyenne, WY, 82009
Funeral services will be held at Ballard Funeral Home in Cody on Saturday, Nov. 28, at 10 a.m. with interment at Riverside Cemetery following, and a get-together at the VFW post right after.
