Leroy Allen

LeRoy Allen "Al" Jr. of Yukon, Oklahoma, passed away Monday, October 14, 2024 at the age of 78 years. 

Al was born March 04, 1946, in Newport, Arkansas, son of Gene and LeRoy Allen. He was raised with his younger sister Gwen in Tuckerman, Arkansas. He worked with his Dad on a rice farm providing crops for Rice Krispies. His father never owned land but raised crops on the land of others and paid for the land use by sharing a fourth of his crops. LeRoy graduated high school in Tuckerman and went on to attend the University of Arkansas. His mother would later say that he should have started in second grade because he could already read, write, and do math, causing his teachers extra work planning things to keep him busy. He left college without graduating but later earned three associate degrees, a Bachelor degree, and a Masters degree.

He never really liked his name because people pronounced it “LeeRoy”, when it was meant to be pronounced “La Roy” like his father’s name. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in Government Contracting and served in that field for 23 years and was always known as “Al”. His work assignments included buyer, contract administration, services, negotiator, inspector general, and teaching a systems class at Lowry AFB in Denver. Other locations where he served were Big Spring, TX, Thailand, Colorado Springs, Anchorage, Alaska, Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City, Athens, Greece, and Dayton, Ohio. Many of his peers were jealous of him because he was a Tech Sargeant after only 6 years of service. After 13 years of enlisted time, he went from Senior Master Sargeant to becoming an officer and served an additional 10 years.

After a short marriage which produced two children, Nancy and Gaylon, which he dearly loved, he left for Southeast Asia and spent almost two years there. Knowing he was going there, he learned to speak, read, and write the language before he arrived. Because of this language skill, and his contract administration ability, he spent many months with the Thai guard in the jungle where he was the only US Air Force member.

Upon his return to the US, he married the love of his life, Carol Dumas on May 04, 1972, at K.I. Sawyer AFB near Marquette, Michigan, and they were married 52 years. Carol brought two children to the marriage, Kelli and Brian, which Al later adopted. He loved them then and loves them now and spends many hours talking to them on the phone because neither live close to him.

In Athens, Greece, Al and Carol were blessed with a daughter, Robin, and although born in a hospital, she was delivered by her father. Many Greeks were very superstitious and after seeing Robin, a little old lady pulled at his sleeve and appeared to want him to do something. He asked a nurse who could speak English what the lady was saying.She said, “she wants you to deliver her grand baby also, so it will have blue eyes.”

Roy Edward was born in Denver, making Al the father of six. Roy is very much like his father, and it was sometimes difficult to listen to them because one would start a sentence, and the other one would finish it. While both are very smart, Roy’s mother and Roy’s wife sometimes tell them they must share one brain.

In addition to his children, he has 21 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren with more on the way. Rarely will you find a man who loves his children more.

Al always loved hunting, shooting, and guns and ran a small gun shop after retiring from the Air Force. Later he would work for the Boy Scouts and then served as Chief Bailiff of the district court in Ottawa and Delaware County, Oklahoma. He has always collected guns, but since it was not a particular brand, he would say he was not a gun collector, but just a “gun gather-er.”While not normally a big sports fan, he loved watching his children and grandchildren play ball.

Al is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has served in many callings in his more than 50 years of membership. He had the privilege of meeting three presidents of the church and valued the time he spent with them. He loved serving in his church positions. 

Al is survived by his wife of 52 years Carol Allen; daughter Kelli Campbell and husband Ron; daughter Nancy Cordell and husband Steve; son Gaylon Pridmore and wife Melissa; son Brian and wife Aleta; daughter Robin Schluter and husband Shelby; son Roy and wife Josie; 21 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; sister Gwen Taylor; brother Jeff Bohnenkamp and wife Mary Ann; along with nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.