Thomas C. Allen Jr., 87, passed away on Nov. 11, 2011, at the Mountain View Living Center, his home at the Veteran's Administration for the past four-and-a-half years.

Allen was born April 5, 1924, in Leadville, Colo., to Thomas C. and Marie (Hagen) Allen. After moving many times, the family settled in Kirkwood, Mo., where Allen finished school.

After one year in college in Houghton, Mich., he was drafted into the U.S. Army and spent almost three years with the 371st Engineering Battalion stateside and in Europe.

He attended Jamestown College in Jamestown, N.D. There he met and married Patricia Shirley, his bride for the next 62 years. They graduated college together in 1950. Allen obtained a bachelor's degree in biology at Jamestown, then received a master's degree in science education at the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga., in 1971.

The couple left Jamestown and came to Wyoming to be fire lookouts on Sheep Mountain above Buffalo. They fell in love with Wyoming and vowed move back.

Allen was trained as a teacher, but he had many other occupations, such as draftsman for Oslund Engineering Services for 14 years. He also worked for the U.S. Forest Service, which included living at Shell and Tyrell Ranger Stations.

His first teaching job was in a one-room log cabin at Quietus, Mont., where he had five students. He taught at Crosby, N.D. from 1953-1957 as the junior high school principal and science teacher. In 1957, he accepted the biology teacher at Sheridan High School, where he taught for 13 years. After a year off to get his master's degree at the University of Georgia, he taught science at the Buffalo Middle School for 13 years, where he was known by his students as "Papa Smurf."

Allen had many interests, such as hiking, biking, skiing, windsurfing, wood working, dancing, birding, gardening and painting.

Allen was an elder in the First Presbyterian Church. While living in Story, he attended the Story Community Church.

From 1979-1982 he designed and built a passive solar earth home near Story, where the couple lived for 27 years.

He is survived by his wife, Pat; sons Mark (Linda) of Bozeman, Mont., Dana (Jennifer) and Jan (Angelita) of Sheridan; daughters Lauri Nilluka (Jim) of Sheridan and Diane Roman (Andy) of Story; grandchildren Chris Nilluka, Dan, Justin, Steven Allen, Sarah and Gabe Allen, Erica Roman; and great grandchildren Allison and Ava Nilluka, Kiaya Allen, and Shelby Denison. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister.

A celebration of life was Nov. 19 at the First Presbyterian Church in Sheridan.

Memorials may be made to the Wyoming Wilderness Association, PO Box 6588, Sheridan WY 82801 or the Black Mountain Nordic Club, PO Box 593, Sheridan WY 82801.

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