Allen Clarence McCovey passed away peacefully June 11, 2020 in Eureka. He was born June 22, 1941 in Hoopa to Allen and Vada John McCovey. He was a proud member of the Yurok Tribe.

Allen grew up on the Yurok Reservation, where he loved to hunt and fish. He was known as “Buzz” to most and as “Tucson” to his Uncle Darrell. He met Marilyn Robbins, his wife of 58 years, when she was 16 years old, swimming with her brothers at Kepel Creek. He worked odd jobs, including riding logs down the Klamath River during the old logging days with his father.

In 1967, he and his wife made the decision to participate in the Indian Relocation Act. The BIA moved Allen and his family to San Francisco, where he became a Union Laborer. He received recognition from the Laborer’s Union for being a 50+ year member. Allen worked on most of the San Francisco skyline and the underground BART system, including the BART tunnel under the San Francisco Bay. He also worked on many of the school asbestos abatement projects. When the earthquake hit in 1989, his daughter said that she was scared because she was standing over BART, he told her “You have nothing to worry about, I built that and there is no way it will collapse”. His work then focused on earthquake retrofitting of roads and bridges.

Although Allen and family had a good life in San Francisco, he always told his family that he was going to retire back home in Humboldt County. His last job was helping to dismantle the PG&E Nuclear Plant in Eureka. When asked if he was worried about working at a nuclear plant his response was, “I already have my kids, if I come home glowing it won’t matter”.

Allen was raised at Notchko on the Yurok Reservation. He spent a great deal of time with his grandmothers, Sadie McCovey and GG Elsie McCovey. He also spent as much time with his aunts and uncles as he did his own parents. When he was asked who he wanted to see first on the other-side he said, “Grandma Sadie and Bum”. Bum was his dog. As a child he spoke his native language of Yurok with his grandmas. He was later part of the language revitalization Master-Apprentice program and spent many years with Master Speaker Aawok Wally Nova relearning what was lost.

One cherished memory he had of his early school years was when he recited ‘The Night before Christmas’ for his school’s Christmas pageant. It was a special treat every Christmas Eve for his family when he would recite “his” version to them. His version was quite funny and a little risqué. Allen was well known for his cleaver wit and sense of humor.

Even though he lived in San Francisco for more than 25 years there were many weekends where he would get off work on Friday, pile his family into the station wagon and head to Eureka to his parent’s house and many times the trip continued onto Notchko. He loved the Klamath River, and never hesitated when his friends wanted to go fish the Klamath. His Uncle Darrell and cousin Long Gone always had a boat ready for him in Orleans.

He loved the outdoors, his community, and in his retirement, he regularly provided his knowledge regarding wildlife and the environment to the numerous committees he contributed to at the tribe over the years. He was a member of the Tribal Park Taskforce, under whose guidance the decision was made to bring the condor home to Yurok country, a project which he loved, and which is now on the brink of success. His wisdom, as well as the respect and love he held for the home he was born to, was clear and deep, and resonated in his quiet but powerful words whenever he spoke of these matters.

Allen was the oldest of his siblings and all his first cousins. He had a place in his heart for all his family. He and his wife had an open door and welcomed everyone to stay with their family in San Francisco whenever they were in town. He loved spending his monthly allowance at the Blue Lake Casino and was so fond of many of the staff there, his granddaughters knew not to ask any favors of him on his Blue Bucks days. He was an avid SF Giant and 49er fan and held football season tickets for 34 years. He also loved to road travel. He and his family explored much of the western United States, camping, visiting all the National Parks, and visiting the various Indian Reservations.

Allen is survived by his wife Marilyn, daughters; Lana, Kathy, and Allyson McCovey, and granddaughters Theresia and Tannyce Bunch. His siblings; Rosa Davis (John), James Lee McCovey, Jene McCovey, Desma Williams, and Tami Cairns (Doug). His aunts; Syd Carroll, Carmen Moon (Fred), and Mavis McCovey. He is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, too many to list separately. He is also survived by his “adopted in his heart” daughters, Kalene and Kim Contreras and granddaughters, Cristina and Janel Lara, and Kimberly Roybal.

He was preceded in death by his father Allen McCovey; his mother Vada John McCovey; brothers Dwayne, and James Edward; sisters: Betty Ann McCovey, Jackie McCovey, and Vlayn McCovey-Bigovich. Nephew Faron Robbins who he raised as a son, and “adopted in his heart” daughter Kateri Contreras. Aunts Bernice Roubideux (Howard); Ramona Trimble (Frank); Florence “Flossie” McCovey; Delores “Dee” Reed (Lawrence). Uncles Darrell, Charles “Big Boy” (Dicey), Stanley “Cart” (Ju-Ju), Howard “Edgie” (Janice), and Marion “Shoeshine” McCovey. His special friend Paul Hodge. His mother-in-law, Theresia Erickson Robbins Ross; His fathers-in-law, George Robbins Sr., and Sherwood Ross. His brothers-in-law, Frank Erickson, George Robbins Jr., and John Robbins Sr., his sister-in-law Florence Robbins.

Pall Bearers are his nephews Thorin and Aldaron McCovey-Bigovich; Allen and Dwayne Davis; William Watts, Edward McCovey; Dick, Tyke, and Kapel Robbins; John Jr., Rodney “Rowds”, and Ronnie Robbins; Lenard and Victor Stone; and Adrian Contreras.

Honorary Pall Bearers are James McCovey; Kenneth and Ricky Roubideux; Loren “Long Gone”, Robert, and Terrance McCovey; Charles IV, Gordon, Marion “Inker”, and Michael McCovey; Ron and Lenny “Butch” Reed; Richard Moon; Bradley Amos; Kelly Byrns; Greg Trimble; Frank McCovey; John, JR and David Davis; Frank and Walt Lara; Joe Hostler; Bob Borden; Joe, Tim and Kendall Hunt; David O’Neill; Richard “Dickie” Myers; Arlen Charles; Willard Carlson Jr.; Raymond and Marvin Mattz; Donald McCovey; Cliff Case; Thomas Bray; Earl Jackson; Troy and Travis Cairns; Frank Erickson Jr., Santi Atanacio; and Oscar and James Gensaw.

Viewing will be held Monday, June 15, 2020 at Paul’s Chapel, 1070 H Street, Arcata, from 3 to 7 pm. (Face masks must be worn in the building)

Services will be held Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at the Shaker Church, Wautec (Johnson’s) at 1 p.m. with burial following at the Wautec Cemetery. Due to COVID-19 restrictions within the Yurok Reservation, family is encouraging distancing and face masks.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Allen McCovey’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.