Autry Augusta Allen, Sr., was born on January 27, 1934, in Lubbock, Texas to the union of Daniel E. Allen and Pearl Williams Allen. He is the last of a group of 15 siblings. The large family was devoted to each other. If you had a problem with one, you had it with all of them. The family moved from Lubbock to Vanport, OR. They enjoyed the time there until the Vanport Flood of 1948. Vanport was destroyed so they relocated to Northeast Portland.
Autry attended Holladay Elementary and Washington High School. He made many lifelong friends. One lifelong friend he met on a bean field. Back then teenagers picked beans to buy school clothes or to have money for the movies. His brother Lloyd was harassing this girl, Jeanette, in the bean field. She went up to him to ask him to stop his brother. Autry and Jeanette made a friendship and courtship that lasted 5 years and ended in marriage.
Autry married Jeanette Warren on December 22, 1956. It was witnessed by Lloyd Allen and Eurelene Warren Beasley. To this union three children were born, Autry A. Allen Jr.(deceased), Arneta M. Allen and Kirkland E. Allen, Sr. Autry is also the father to Tony Holman and Blanca Gonzales-Allen.
Autry was employed at Harvey's Aluminum Plant in The Dalles, Oregon. Where he drove 80 miles each day to work. He worked various shifts and was there for about two years. After leaving Harvey's he joined a large number of Warren Family members at Esco Corporation where he worked as a molder and was praised for his wonderful work. The family was blessed to be taken care of by such a great provider. He was short in stature, but tall in the manner in which he took care of his family. He retired from Esco in 1996.
After retirement, Autry discovered a passion for scrapping metal, a pastime that brought him joy. Yet, it was his love for horses that truly captivated him. He loved to see them run and to bet on them. He went to many places to bet on them. He once offered to drive Jeanette to a state convention in Spokane, WA. We later found out the reason for the offer. The horses were running. He got a yearly pass in the mail for the county fair in Tillamook, had a table at Portland Meadows and went to Seattle on a regular basis. He would often say, " I don't read well.", but he read the racing form like some people read the Bible. A testament to his indomitable spirit.
After all of the above, He began to attend church. He fell in love with the church family and the pastor at Greater Mt. Gillard Baptist Church. He was faithful in his attendance. He accepted Christ and was baptized on Easter Sunday in 2025 at 91 years of age.
Autry leaves to cherish his memory, Jeanette, his wife of 69 years; sons Tony and Kirkland Sr.; daughters Arneta and Blanca; Goddaughter LaSeda Thompson; special friend Ferral Davis; 14 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and friends who will cherish his memory forever.
