Douglas MacGregor Allan

1924 - 2014

Douglas MacGregor Allan

Douglas MacGregor Allan passed away on February 12, 2014, just days after celebrating his 90th birthday. As a final gift of sacrifice for his family, he and his wife of 65 years, Barbara Jean, left Lopez Island and moved into a retirement home in Enumclaw, Washington to be closer to family. Doug entered this life on January 27, 1924 on a cold winter day in Aberdeen, Washington. He was the one and only son of Alexander MacGregor Allan and Stella Marie Pelland. He lived in the state of Washington his entire life and wherever he moved, a new life adventure would begin. He spent much of his childhood in Bellingham where after his father was killed in an auto accident, his mother taught school and his grandmother ran a boarding house. As a teenager, they moved to Everett where he attended high school and worked along side his new step-father Mitch at the family owned gas station where his future bride often stopped to get her bicycle tires filled and where several years later he would say his marriage vows.

He completed his high school diploma at Mt Vernon High School, where he attended classes with his future brother-in-law, Bruce Parker, who would host many family gatherings where happy memories were created when all 9 girl cousins got together. After high school, he received a football scholarship that led him back to Bellingham. Doug served his country in 1943 during World War II. He was stationed in France after D-Day with his Army unit to repair jeeps and trucks as fast as they broke down. He was there during the Battle of the Bulge and returned safely to complete his Industrial Management degree at the University of Washington, where he met Barbara who working towards her education degree. After years of a somewhat nomadic life throughout the state of Washington, Douglas and Barbara built a home for his family in Kirkland where they lived for more than 55 years. He raised four daughters, Cathy Fallen-Mathews (Keith)of Enumclaw, Mary Jean Dodson (Bill) of Snohomish, Janet Gerlitz (Rich) of Tri-Cities and Ginny Lillie (Bob) of Auburn. He was Gramps to 10 grand-children, Derek Fallen (Lee), Shannon Gruber (Jim), Brooke Nakuda (Daryn), Byron Lillie, Stephenie Ramage (Ryan), Sara Gerlitz, Jennifer Gerlitz, John Gerlitz and Robert Gerlitz. He loved his great-grandkids David and Gavin Fallen; Ruby And Dewy Nakuda; Keaton Ramage; Royal Gruber; and Rhianalyn and Robert Dodson. He was proceeded in death by his grand-children Jennifer and John Gerlitz and his son-in-law David Fallen. It was during the years in Kirkland that he refocused his passion for working with metals. His love of science eventually led him to a 47 year career in the metallurgical business as the owner of Pacific Metallurgical Inc in Kent, where his daughters, son-in laws and grandson would eventually share in his passion for the business. Nearly all of his children and grand-children would work for Grandpa at one time or another saving for college or making it their career. In the year 2010, Doug and Barb moved into their vacation home on beautiful Lopez Island, where the family has gathered to crab, fish and hang out on the beach since 1965.

Life was good to Doug and we invite all to join us in a Celebration of his life on Sunday, February 23, 2014 from 3:00pm-5:00pm at the Inglewood Country Club, Seattle Washington. The family would like to send a special thank you to the staff of Expressions of Enumclaw for their loving and supportive care of our parents during this difficult time.