ALLEN, Tom K.

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona - 03/18/2003 Tom K. Allen, 61, died March 11, 2003 in Holbrook. Tom was born April 6, 1940 in Snowflake to Sessal and Charlotte Allen, the youngest of eight children. He was raised in Woodruff and graduated from Holbrook High School. Tom has worked at various jobs. He married Sylvia Nivin and moved to Holbrook. The have one son, Del and his wife Michelle, and two step-daughters, Deanne and her husband Larry Halpin and Dianne and her husband Scott Wentzloff. Tom drove school bus for 15 years for Holbrook schools. He began working for the Arizona Department of Transportation and then married Jala Lewis. He has four-stepchildren, Ricky Lewis (deceased), Vernon Lewis, Debbie and her husband Chris Serna and Ronnie and his wife Tracy Lewis. Tom was a Holbrook volunteer fireman for 25 years and a charter member of the Holbrook Elks Lodge for 34 years. He retired from the State of Highway Department last year. He loved driving 18-wheelers and enjoyed golfing, hunting, camping, fishing, four-wheeling and any other outdoor activity. He was not married at the time of his death but left six children, three sisters, Thelma, Nella and Joan, 15 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Norma and Evalyn and two brothers, Rial and Chad, and his step-son Ricky Lewis. Memorial services were held Saturday, March 15, at the Holbrook Elks Lodge. Burial will follow in the Woodruff Cemetery. Owens Mortuary of Holbrook handled the arrangements.