Robert Allen

Robert J. Allen, 75, of Coalville passed away peacefully early Monday morning, May 12, 2008, due to complications of Alzheimer's disease after nearly two years in the care of the Rocky Mountain Care Center in Heber City, Utah.

Bob was born on July 27, 1932 in Roosevelt, Utah to Isabella Peterson Allen and Lewis Allen, the seventh of ten children and the only one to have been born in a hospital.

He attended school in Loa, UT, where his love of nature and his strong value system were born and flourished surrounded by his large loving family. Bob joined the Navy right after graduation, serving for four years as a Seaman in the Navy during the Korean War on the aircraft carrier USS Hancock, a sister ship to the USS Kitty Hawk.

In 1964, he married Sandra Jean Mason and had two sons, David and Robert, of whom he was very proud. He taught them through his quiet ways, the value of a hard day's work and that a man's word is his bond. He taught them to respect nature and to enjoy its bounty.

Bob worked for 32 years for Anchutz Ranch at Castle Rock, herding cattle, mending fences, and making friends with all he met. It was on the ranch that he was truly in his element, spending winters with the cattle on Antelope Island, summering in the Uintas, teaching his sons, and then continuing to share his love of life and the land with his grandchildren. His love of nature and the outdoors lives on as his legacy through his sons and his grandchildren.

After leaving the ranch, Bob and his wife, Sandy, took their vast knowledge of thirty years of life in Echo Canyon and began working at the Echo Information Center where he continued to share his love of the area with others while making friends from all corners of the world for as long as he was able to do so.

Robert leaves in life: his wife, Sandra; sons and daughter-in-laws: David and Brandy Allen of Coalville; and Robert and Lisa Allen of Evanston; brother, Kay (Lisa) Allen of Teasdale; sisters: Ava Ungerer of Magna; Lynn Caven of Salt Lake; Leda Beatty of Murray; and Youma Neerings of St. Anthony, ID; sister-in-law, Bertha Allen of Sandy, UT; grandchildren: Joshua, Nicholas, Beth, Kelsey, Destiny and Stacy; and great-grandchildren: Matthew, Austin, Tyler, Dezi, and Hunter; and his beloved dog, Punky. We will all miss his kind eyes, easy smile and sense of humor. He will be welcomed to Heaven by his parents, Belle and Lewis; and siblings: Orion, Carl (Dion), Glen, and Jean.

The family would like to thank Stella and the staff of Rocky Mountain Care Center for the kindness and attention they gave to Robert while he was in their care. You came to his aid at a time when we could no longer do it alone, Thank You. And also to all his friends in the community who have expressed their love and concern to the family during this difficult time, you have given us so much strength and support!

While Bob never wanted a fuss made, the family has decided to have a small funeral service to allow his friends and family to say goodbye. Viewing will be at the Hoytsville Ward House on Friday, May 16, at 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. with funeral services following at 11 a.m. Graveside services will be at the Larkin Sunset Garden Cemetery, 1950 E. 10600 S. in Salt Lake City. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Alzheimer's Research.

Bob's quiet, gentle ways will live in our hearts forever, and while we will grieve our loss, we know that our cowboy still rides on a�" you just can't see him from the road.