Keith Eugene Allen, 71, of Klamath Falls, Oregon, died May 22, 2019, in Portland, Oregon, of complications from corrective hernia surgery. He was the son of Mac and Okla (Boggs) Allen, and a brother to Merri (Allen) Vinton, lifelong county residents. A complete obituary will follow with information about a memorial service to be held in Blair, Nebraska, later this summer.

#2-Published in the Pilot-Tribune July 16, 2019

(Photo)

Keith E. Allen, 71, Klamath Falls, Ore., died May 22, 2019. A military tribute will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, July 22, at the Allen Cemetery (take Lakeland Rd. south of Blair to CR37/P37). A Celebration of Life will follow at the American Legion Club in Blair.

Keith was born Nov. 9, 1947, in Blair, to Mac and Okla (Boggs) Allen. He grew up on the family farm and graduated from Blair High in 1965. He later enlisted in the USAF and served in Vietnam. In 1969 he married Mary Butler and moved to Blair. Keith worked at D.L. Blair and served as a reserve officer with the Blair Police Dept., before taking a job with the Klamath Falls Police Dept. then later the Klamath County Sheriff Dept. In 1988 he married Midge Gilbert.

He is survived by children Mellisa (Kelly) Case, and Brad (Meredith) Allen; three grandchildren; one great-grandson; sister, Merri (Richard) Vinton. He was preceded in death by his wife and parents.

Memorials directed to the family for donation to the Blair Area Law Enforcement Trust.

#3 Funeral leaflet

(photo)

Jaycee Creed

We Believe:

That faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life; That the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations; That economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise; That government should be of laws rather than of men; That earth's great treasure lies in human personality; And that service to humanity is the best work of life.

Daniel 3: 16-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this manner. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image who thou has set up.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home

#4 Funeral Leaflet

(photo)

Keith Eugene Allen, 71, of Klamath Falls, Oregon, died May 22, 2019, in Portland, Oregon, of complications from corrective hernia surgery. A Military Tribute will be held at 1:00 on July 22, 2019 at the Allen Cemetery (CR 37 & P 37) south of Blair on the Lakeland Road, followed by a Celebration of Life at the American Legion Club in Blair.

Keith was born November 9, 1947, in Blair, Nebraska to Mac and Okla (Boggs) Allen. He grew up on the family farm south of Blair, where he attended McCarthy grade school and graduated from Blair High School in 1965. After graduation he went to Universal Trade School in Omaha, Nebraska, where he specialized in collision repair, after which he worked at Blair's Chrysler Dealership.

In 1966 Keith joined the Air Force and was trained as a munition specialist. He was assigned to Kingsley Field Air Force base in Klamath Falls, Oregon, where he served in Support Combat Operations. He was deployed to Phu Cat, Viet Nam, in 1967, and was a part of the 416th Tactical Fighter Squadron. In 1969 upon his return from combat duty, he married Mary Butler of Klamath Falls, and they made their home in Las Vegas where he finished his military service. The couple settled in Blair, and he worked at the D.L. Blair Company at the start of its operations.

Always wanting a career in law enforcement, Keith began by serving as a Reserve Officer with the Blair Police Department while awaiting a full-time position. In the meantime, an opening came available with the Klamath Falls Police Department. He returned to Klamath Falls and served the Oregon community for twenty-five years. Shortly after his retirement he began a second career with the Klamath County Sheriff's Department. in 1988 he married Marian "Midge" Gilbert. They continued to make their home in Klamath Falls, and he started an upholstery business.

Keith was a great story teller, and is best remembered by tales he told of his experiences in Vietnam, the Police Department, the Bomb Squad or SWAT Team, and hunting trips with cousins or fishing with his brother-in-law--improving each time he told them! He had a remarkable sense of humor and could deliver quick remarks which were not only clever and funny but also perfectly timed.

He is survived by his two children, Mellisa (Kelly) Case, and Brad (Meredith) Allen; his three grandchildren, Katie (Logan) bell, Kyler Case, and Kaileen Allen; one great-grandson, Declan Bell, all of Oregon; one sister, Merri (Richard) Vinton; nephew, Chris (Paula) Vinton, and their children, Caleb and Gavin, all of Minnesota; and niece, Rebecca Vinton Dorn and her children, Austin and Elyse, of Omaha; plus numerous friends, relatives and Taz, "the poodle from hell". Keith was preceded in death by his wife, Midge, and his parents.

Celebrating the Life of Keith Allen

Monday, July 22, 2019 1:00 pm

Military Tribute: The Allen Pioneer Memorial Cemetery. Brig. Gen. Carl A. Lorenzen (ret)--Officiating. Herman Jackson-Peck Post #274

Celebration of Keith's Life: The American Legion Club, 103 S. 12th St., Blair, Nebraska. Greeting: Chris Vinton. "The Lord's Prayer": Rebecca Vinton Dorn. Remarks: Family & Friends. Music: Rebecca & Elyse Dorn.

Acknowledgement: Keith's family wishes to express our sincere thanks for memorials which have been directed to the Blair Law Enforcement Trust in his memory. Your expression of love during our time of bereavement is greatly appreciated.

~~~ Obituaries and funeral leaflets courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

~Memorial stone in Allen Pioneer Cemetery. Burial in Eternal Hills Memorial Gardens Klamath Falls, Klamath County, Oregon.

FindaGrave Memorial # 199618557 and # 199622208