Darrell William Allen

Darrell W. Allen passed away Friday, February 3, 2017, at his home in Hoxie, Kansas at the age of 84. He was born in rural Sheridan County to Earl and Rose (Bachman) Allen on October 20, 1932. His family lived and farmed in the Menlo, Kansas area before moving to Elizabeth, Colorado for a year to get treatment for Glenn. They moved back and settled on a farm west of Hoxie. Darrell attended Menlo Elementary School and Sheridan Community High School graduating with the Class of 1950. He turned down a scholarship from Kansas State University in order to stay home and work on the farm. Darrell entered the United States Army in 1954 at Fort Riley, Kansas then went to Fort Ord, California for Basic Training. A member of the National Honor Guard, he was stationed in Tokyo, Japan before going to Korea for three months near the end of the Korean War. After returning home in December of 1955 he worked at M&M Body Shop and on his parent’s farm. On April 4, 1958 he was united in marriage to Karen Smith in Norton, Kansas. They made their home on the farm and eventually moved to Hoxie. They were blessed with four daughters, Kelly, Kim, Patty, and Pam. Darrell was a farmer and rancher for most of his life and had no inclination of ever retiring. He worked to include family in the farming operations, including partnering, owning, and operating Hoxie Grain Inc. over the years with Archie Moss, and then son-in-law Kirk Baker. He was still operating Allen Feedlot, and this past summer was busy running the combine, tractors, and packing corn during harvest. After his grandchildren were born, he enjoyed going to all of their events and hardly missed any thing they were involved in. He was a member of the Hoxie Christian Church where he served as a Deacon and Trustee. For over 25 years, he was a board member of Hoxie Co-Op, served on the Hoxie School Board, and was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Darrell is survived by his wife Karen of the home in Hoxie; daughters Kelly Baker and husband Kirk, Kim Deines and husband Gene, Patty Ochs, and Pam Washington and husband Eric all of Hoxie; sister-in-law Peggy Allen; grandchildren Travis Baker and wife Julie, Trent Baker and wife Ashley, Tyler Baker and wife Becci, Brandon Baker, Megan Ochs, Calvin Ochs, Carson Ochs, Kane Washington and Tori Mackley, Scout Washington, Taye Washington, Willow Washington, and Knox Washington; and great-grandchildren Allison Baker, Caroline Baker, Addilyn Baker, Ethan Baker, and Eli Baker. He was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Rosine Allen, and brother Glenn Allen. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30am on Friday, February 10, 2017, at the Hoxie Christian Church. Burial will follow in the Hoxie City Cemetery with Military Rites by Fort Riley Honor Guard, Fort Riley, Kansas . . Visitation will be from 11:00am-7:00pm on Thursday at the funeral home with family receiving friends from 6:00- 7:00pm. Memorials are suggested to the Hoxie Christian Church, Sheridan County Benefit Walk, or Phillipsburg Hospice and may be sent in care of Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, PO Box 987, Hoxie, Kansas 67740. On-line condolences may be left at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com Darrell was the type of man the Proverbs writer spoke of when he said, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” The inheritance Darrell leaves to us includes not only all that he spent his life working for in this world, but more importantly, the spiritual inheritance of his unwavering faith in the Lord’s plan, eternal hope in His provision, and unconditional love for God, family, friends, and neighbors.