Gene W. Allen, 78

Gene W. Allen, 78, passed away April 8, 2007, in Spokane.

Gene was born in Oregon City, Ore., on May 15, 1928. As a young child Gene's family lived in Spokane and several years in various communities in Yellowstone Park where his father Henry was a park ranger and his mother Addie was a cook.

Gene's family then moved to the Plains/Paradise, Mont., area for a few years in which Gene truly loved. His family moved to Bonners Ferry, where he spent his high school years and met many of his lifelong friends.

The people of Bonners Ferry nicknamed him "Blossom" because of the bright orange P.E. shorts he wore when he first arrived. Gene excelled in athletics and truly treasured his days in Bonners Ferry. After high school Gene attended the University of Idaho and was part of the Navy ROTC program.

Gene then worked for companies out of Hanford which led him to the East Coast for a couple of years before he returned to work with his father in the land clearing business. Their company cleared the sites for the Noxon Rapids Dam in Montana and the Trinity Lake Dam in California. During this time of his life Gene spent his winter months in Sun Valley skiing. While working in California he met Mary Hollenbeak and got married. After completing the Trinity project, Gene moved to Spokane and had two children, Heather and Matt. Gene then moved his family to Sandpoint, Idaho.

After several years in Sandpoint Gene moved to Vancouver, Wash., to be closer to his grandchildren. In the last few years Gene spent time in the Centralia, Wash., area and finally back to Spokane.

Gene is survived by Mary Allen; children Matt (Heather) Allen of Liberty Lake and Heather (Wade) Palmer of Vancouver, Wash.; and five grandchildren, Scott and Eric Allen, Monica, Kristin and Carrie Palmer.

A memorial service will be held at Thornhill Valley Funeral Home, 1400 S. Pines Rd., Spokane Valley, at 2 p.m. on April 15.