Travis Gayle Allen

Travis Gayle Allen was born July 22, 1926, in Shep, Texas to John Early Allen and Pearl Forehand Allen. Travis was the last of 5 children, Austin, 1911, Fay, 1914, Olga 1917, Omega, 1924 and Travis, 1926.

In 1928 the family moved to Littlefield, Texas to be close to a new Bible college for the older children. Travis had many stories of his growing up years in Littlefield - of his family, the church family, the neighbors, and the lessons he learned. One story that stands out is when the Model T flipped over during the move to Littlefield. That event was the beginning of his memories!

There were only 11 grades in the Littlefield public school and since he was the last of five children, he had already learned all the 1st grade information when he started school, so he moved up to the second grade within a week of starting school. He ended up graduating from Littlefield High School in 1942. He started college at Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) in Lubbock in 1942 at the age of 16.

He was drafted into the Army in 1945 and served as a Technician Fourth Grade in Missouri and at Camp Polk Louisiana. He was honorably discharged in 1946. Because the college term was underway at Tech and had begun later at Abilene Christion College, he continued his education in Abilene. Travis returned to Tech and graduated June 7, 1948. Travis was a lifelong Red Raider fan!

On June 8, 1948, Travis married Ella Marie Wallace. Marie was from Robert Lee, Texas and was the daughter of Calvin and Leona Wallace. The young couple moved to Andrews, Texas where Travis began working for Standard Oil of Indiana, which later became Amoco Production Company. Over the next few years, Travis was transferred to the office in Tulsa, Oklahoma and then to Fort Worth Texas. The family moved to Arlington, Texas in 1953. Finally, in 1971 the family moved to Colorado to settle in Centennial, a suburb of Denver.

During his 38 years of work for Amoco Travis earned an MBA from Colorado State University. He was one of the pioneers of remote learning as he watched the lectures at the public library and was tested remotely. When Amoco was purchased by British Petroleum (BP) Travis chose to retire rather than move away from children and grandchildren who were settled in the Denver area. At the end of his life, he still received a monthly pension from BP and had almost lived as long as a retiree as he did as a worker.

In 1987, Travis acquired a religious publication, Gospel Tidings, and was editor, sometimes writer, and publisher for 20 years. He and Marie were also the distributors, stamping, addressing, and mailing from their kitchen table every month.

Travis and Marie were lifelong members of the Church of Christ and had many close relationships from churches they attended in Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado. He served as an Elder at Cooper Street Church of Christ in Arlington, Texas and at South Fulton Street Church of Christ in Denver, Colorado.

Marie died in 2013 from Alzheimer’s disease. Travis mourned her for the rest of his life. They were married almost 65 years at the time of her death. For many years, he could tell you on any given day, how many days it had been since she passed.

Travis continued to live in their house until he suffered a fall in 2021. The house sold almost 50 years to the day that they purchased it. From 2021 until his death on November 7, 2023, at the age of 97, he lived in assisted living at Garden Plaza in Aurora, Colorado, where he was cared for and loved by the staff and residents.

Travis is survived by his daughters and their spouses, Gloria and Rick Srikijkarn, Margaret and Bob Rossow, Myra and Dave Sprague; by his eight grandchildren and their spouses, Lamai Srikijkarn, Vanee Srikijkarn, Laura and Tim Libby, Sarah and David Watson, Steven and Brenda Sprague, Aaron Sprague and Courtney Justice, Allen Sprague and Johanna Hansen, Juliana Sprague and Tyler Glaze; by his twelve great grandchildren William Hartman, Elias Houssney, Silas Houssney, Ezra Houssney, Isaac Watson, Natalie Watson, Scarlett Sprague, Layla Sprague, Samara Sprague, Anessa Sprague, Dean Smith, Tidus Glaze; by his great-great grandson Alastor Sprague; by his brother-in-law and sister-in-Law Royce and Alice Wallace; and by a host of nieces and nephew and friends. Travis was well loved by all who knew him and will be greatly missed and fondly remembered for his kindness, generosity, and genuine care for others.

A visitation for Travis will be held Friday, November 17, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Olinger Hampden Mortuary & Cemetery, 8600 East Hampden Ave, Denver, CO 80231.

A funeral service will occur Friday, November 17, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, 8600 East Hampden Ave, Denver, CO 80231.

A graveside service will occur Friday, November 17, 2023 from 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM, 8600 East Hampden Ave, Denver, CO 80231.

A reception will occur Friday, November 17, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, 8600 East Hampden Ave, Denver, CO 80231.

If you are looking to make a memorial gift in honor of Mr. Allen theses are three charitable organizations he supported:

Christian Relief Fund (CRF)

PO BOX 19670, Amarillo, TX 79114-1670

Toll Free: 800.858.4038 (9-5)

https://crf.com/give

Mountain States Children's Home

14780 N. 107th Street

Longmont, CO 80504

303.776.6841

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=QZA2KQVDJSYKY&source=url

Namikango Mission

PO Box 16528

Lubbock, Texas 79490

https://namikango.org/donate/1-time-gift/

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhampdenmortuary.com for the Allen family.