Donald Lloyd Allen
September 6, 1931 to September 15, 2025

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Donald Lloyd Allen, a beloved husband, father and friend, who departed peacefully in Eureka just days after celebrating his 94th birthday with family by his side. Don lived a full life and brought joy to those around him with his sense of humor, infectious smile and willingness to help. He could make or fix about anything, with patience and steadiness. He would always have a pencil and notebook in this flannel shirt pocket, with suspenders and a hat rounding out his typical style.

Don was married to Gloria Benson (Fortuna) for 67 years and they lived most of those years in the house that Don built in Cutten on the street that he built and bears his name. They had three children, Julie Allen in Portland, Leslie Allen in Eureka and Steven Allen (Keri, son Bode) in Cutten.

Born in Eureka to Jesse Judd and Flora Eva Allen, Don was the third born of four brothers — Bill, Neil and Gail — all of whom preceded him in death. The Allen brothers shared a close bond, strengthened through both joyful and challenging times, with the oldest and youngest being born on the same day four years apart.

The brothers were taking care of their family home near Pigeon Point while their parents were both in the hospital after being struck by a drunk driver on their way to work. When clearing and burning brush, Don’s leg was burned and he also ended up in the hospital. The scars remained, and when he and his brother Neil went to enlist in the Air Force, he was rejected because they said he could not wear combat boots. However with the Korean conflict heating up, the Army had no problem drafting him. So Don served in the Army along the DMZ zone in Korea.

After being honorably discharged, he milked cows for local dairies and attended Humboldt State College. However, his love for equipment and construction won the day and he never looked back.

Don was a heavy equipment operator, owning his own equipment and also working with and teaching classes for the Local 3 Union of Operating Engineers. He was a blade man, known for his skill to operate a grader and make grade even without survey grade stakes. He had a great eye and was widely admired for his ability to grade a flat site. He was busy helping the community recover from the ’64 flood and could not get the time off to be at the hospital when his son was born. He worked in Shelter Cove, helped build Highway 101 through Arcata, the bike paths and turn lane to Fern Canyon back when Rolf from Rolf’s Café used to come out and take lunch orders from the crew. He worked with many great people over the years, including Bud Balke, Tom Coy, Ernie and Bill Pierson and Bob King with Redwood Empire Aggregates. You couldn’t drive with dad around Humboldt County without him telling stories about a project he worked on along the way.

He could also make or fix about anything. In addition to building the family home, he built a horse trailer for his daughters, dump trucks from various parts, shops and a treehouse, and he held multiple patents for a radiation shield with his neighbor Harold Godfrey, as well as an adjustable height desk. The desk was recognized in the 1990s as one of the 50 best inventions by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and as such he and his PostureMate business partner Doug Beckstead were invited to Washington DC to showcase their desk. Don also helped his son Steve build two of the original local BMX race tracks and would take Steve to BMX races in Oregon and California. Don also bought, fixed up and enjoyed taking the family and friends out on a wood ocean sport fishing boat catching salmon, crab and other species.

He wore many hats in life, as a son, brother, husband, father, uncle, student, teacher, mentor, veteran, business owner, inventor and friend to many. He was a kind, generous, funny, patient (usually), playful, honorable, honest, creative, loving, talented, accepting, hard working, ethical, happy, optimistic, problem-solving and a very logical person. His dry wit was known by many and often referred to as “Allen humor” as his brothers and family all share some form of the same affliction. As dad often said, do what you want when I am gone as I won’t be there. Enough said.

There is a celebration of life planned at Freshwater Grange from 2 to 5 p.m. on November 15, 2025. Those who knew Don are welcome to come celebrate his life and share stories.

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