James Harvey Allen

James was born June 6, 1926 to Harvey and Bessie Allen, in Slayden Mississippi, the sixth of their seven children. He is survived by only the youngest of the seven children his sister, Juanita Johnson. James leaves behind his wife of fifty two years, Alice M. Allen and three children, June R. Allen-Harris of U.S. and Kolin Germany (John), Roger Wells of Portland Oregon and Michelle Jones Snipes (James ) of Memphis,Tennessee. James Allen leaves nine grandchildren.These children are Allen Fitzgerald Harris, Joshua Hiram Harris (June and John) Rogerio Wells, Jaleana Wells, Clinton Wells , Christopher Rainwater, Janaya Williams, Damitre Wells (Roger Wells) and Jamese Alexander (Michelle and James). In addition there are four great grand children (Jamese Alexander).

For nearly forty years James worked as a skycap at Seattle Tacoma airport. A child of the Depression he lived a rather frugal life and worked hard to support his wife and family . He loved to tell the story of how during Seattle's World Fair in 1962 many tourists came through the airport which meant an abundance of tips. He took those tips and saved them to pay down on his first property. He then used this property as a home and later as collateral for another property. James loved to tinker whether it was cars, the upkeep of his property or on any of the multitude of old tools he notoriously kept in his garage. He was a very quiet and observant man who practiced classic and conservative values. Yet he was also a man who never lost the country/rural part of himself as expressed in foods and music.

God Gave Us a Mantra...

Four words dropped by divine inspiration

Four words that have for us marked the margins of our rites of passage ...

Going away to college was exciting but a bit scary for our always independent June

But once her roommate arrived she sat me down, looked me in the eye and with a great deal of confidence she seized the new moment and quietly said " You can go now"

Many years later James, her father who had a history of being a bad actor in hospitals was rolled into the quiet homey halls of A Safe Haven Adult Family Home and after a quick tour and some dinner he tugged me by my sleeve, looked me in the eye and said "You can go now"

Six months later, Friday night March March 24, 2017 five minutes before the dawn of a new day I held him close, whispered how much I loved him, told him how hard he had always worked; told him how great his grandchildren were and I said I don't want you to go but if you have to "You can go now" He opened his mouth wide took one last gulping breath and he was gone. Amidst all our tears; he was gone

A viewing will be held to pay final respects to James on Thursday March 30, from 4pm to 8pm in the Evergreen Washelli Tribute Center, 11111 Aurora Ave N, Seattle WA 98133.

A graveside service will be held to lay him to rest on Friday March 31 at 11:00am at Holyrood Catholic Cemetery, 205 Northeast 205th Street, Shoreline, WA 98155.