Merlin Allen's obituary, Harrison, Clare County, Michigan

Copyright © 1999 by Alice Eaton. 
This copy contributed for the use in the USGenWeb Archives.  

 

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Clare County Cleaver, Harrison, Mich., 1999.

Merlin Leroy "Roy" Allen:  Much loved husband, father, grandfather and
great-grandfather passed away Wednesday, April 7, 1999 at Saint Mary's
hospital followig a short illness.  He was 81 years old.
     Roy was born in Harrison, Michigan January 25, 1918 to Jess and
Martha Allen.  While still a child, he began his lifeime training in
newspaper printing and publishing bisiness at the offices of The Clare
County Cleaver, a hand-set weekly edited and published by his father. 
In his high school years, he was largely responsible for the production
of the Cleaver.  Later, while serving in the U.S. Army 29th Infantry
Regiment in Germany, he was associate editor on the staff of The 29er. 
Following his military service, Roy returned to Michigan, co-founding
The Onstead Beacon and serving as editor of The Hudson Post-Gazette.  It
was there that he met another Gazette writer, Mary Saettel Kast.  They
were married July 2, 1949 in Angola, Indiana; they were looking forward
to their 50th anniversary this coming summer.
      While serving The Saginaw News for 32 years, Roy was active in The
Valley City Typographical Union and was past president.  He was an avid
genealogist and past president of the Saginaw Genealogical Society.  He
was a longtime member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.  His
interest included membership in the Saginaw Writer's Club and active
involvement in the Bridgeport Historical Society, which he currently
served as Treasurer.  His legacy is a love of stories and he both wrote
and told them with persistence and a passion we can never forget.
     Roy and his loving wife, Mary, raised five children.  They are
Constance (Vincent) Restivo, Mt. Pleasant, S. Carolina; Lawrence (Ann)
Kast of Concord; Elaine (Kenneth) Karls, Martha (James) Andrews and
Robert (Ed) Allen, all of Saginaw.  Roy was a devoted and proud
grandfather to his 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.  In
addition to his wfie, children and grandchildren, he is survived by
brothers, Russell (Marie) Allen, Holliday, Fla. and Duane (Cleo) Allen
of Clare and sister, Jessie O'Mealey of Kissimmee, Fla.  Many nieces,
nephews, friends and neighbors will miss him. He was preceded in death
by sisters, Stella Wood and Hazel Snider and brothers, Wallace and
George and by dear great-granddaughter Phoerbe Yauck.
     Funeral services to commemorate Roy's life were held Saturday, April
10 at 3:30 p.m. where the family was present to greet friends.  Burial
was in Pine Grove Cemetry in Bridgeport.  Those planning an expression
of sympathy may wish to consider Special Olympics, the Bridgeport
Historical Society, or a charity of their choice.