Evelyn Pearl Allen

Evelyn Pearl Crowell Allen passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 18, 2022 at the age of 98. Evelyn was the matriarch of the Denver-based Roy Allen family. She was the mother of four children – Linda Ross (Norm Ross); Jim Allen (Nancy Onago); Roylene Allen (Ruth Rodgers); and Dan Allen (Deb Jean). Evelyn was the grandmother of three – Jenifer Ross-Amato (Dan Amato); Roy Allen (Thais Allen); and Katy Lee (Shaun Lee). She was the great grandmother of four – Sawyer Amato (17); Laurel Amato (15); Averie Lee (3); and Skylar Lee (10 mo.).

Evelyn was born on October 31, 1923 in Denver, Colorado to Pearl and George Crowell. Her grandparents owned a boarding house and other businesses in west Denver. Her youth was shaped by the hardships of the Great Depression.

Evelyn graduated from West High School in Denver where she met her husband, Roy Allen. He was one of seven Allen brothers, a famed family in amateur basketball in the Denver area at that time. Roy and his brothers all shipped off to different branches of the Service during World War 11. Roy joined the Marines and was a radio operator on the Pacific front. He and Evelyn kept up their romance during the war. Evelyn went to nursing school and served as a nurse’s assistant. When Roy returned from the front, the couple married on May 20, 1945 and moved to Philadelphia where Evelyn learned to make delicious pasta and meatballs. Eventually, the couple returned to Denver where all of the Allen brothers safely returned from the war.

Evelyn and Roy started a family in Denver, purchasing a house at 1694 S. St. Paul, pre I-25. Linda, Jim, and Roylene were born while living there. As their family continued to grow with the birth of Dan, a bigger home was needed and the family moved to 1510 S. Bellaire. With open fields east behind the house, Evelyn was surprised but not shocked to find cows on the front porch one day! The children were delighted! Evelyn raised her children in this very ‘modern’ brick house, sending them to new schools with extended family living nearby in a quickly growing Denver. Evelyn and Roy managed to support all their children in sports, various activities and music lessons while both working full-time. They sent all four children to college!

In 1962, Evelyn started working part-time. In 1967 she began working full-time at the Colorado Department of Highways, where she worked for the next 26 years. She rose to the level of Senior Right of Way Agent and was the author of CDOT’s first compliance manual for the Uniform Relocation and Assistance Act (Uniform Act), which provided protections for property owners and residents whose property was purchased by the government for public highway projects. Evelyn worked on two major Colorado highway projects – construction of US 85/Santa Fe and I-70 through Glenwood Canyon.

Evelyn’s married life was shattered by the premature death of Roy in 1977. The couple had started to travel, including memorable trips to Hawaii and Mexico, when Roy died from heart disease at the age of 53. Evelyn remained a loyal, loving widow to Roy even though she lived nearly half her life without him. In her grief, she enjoyed long walks, time with family and planted the most beautiful flower gardens. She loved roses and planted amazing rose gardens.

Evelyn was a loving and devoted grandmother, taking an active role in each of her grandchildren’s lives. She enjoyed baking chocolate chip cookies, attending their sporting events, going on vacations with them, and taking them shopping. She enjoyed picking up her grandkids from school and taking care of them in the afternoons. She was the type of grandma who gave great hugs and her smile lit up the room when she saw her grandchildren. She loved family rituals and traditions and having her house filled with the laughter of her family.

Thankfully, Evelyn lived a long life in which she was able to know her two oldest great grandchildren and meet her two youngest great grandchildren. The world looks very different now than when she grew up, yet she was able to relate to her youngest family members and show them how much she loved them.

Evelyn, Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother, will be greatly missed.

Evelyn died peacefully in her sleep on June 18, 2022. A private burial was held on June 27, 2022.