James E. Allen

1935 - 2024

James E. "Red" Allen, passed away on September 2, 2024, in Miami, FL, at the age of 89.

Jim will be remembered for his ability to build and or fix anything, including boats, houseboats, cars, motorcycles, engines, an indoor skeet range that made him unpopular with a couple of neighbors, and of course his ferro cement sailboat, the Mariah, which he built with his wife at the time, Cynthia.

Jim worked to support himself and his younger brother, Chuck Epp, from the time he was 14 years old, after the death of his mother. From that point on, he became a self-taught man, learning to drive trucks, race motorcycles, snowmobiles and his boat, Bad John.

He also got his pilot's license, allowing him to fly not only his family and friends (not all of us excited), to flying for the Flying Doctors, going into Mexico to provide free health care.

Jim could do anything he set his mind to. He will also be remembered for making the "best burritos ever" after the houseboat races on Engelbright, which of course, he won.

Jim sailed the Mariah off into the sunset sometime in the early 1980s eventually landing in Key West, FL where he went to work at a boatyard, repairing boats and restoring cars. He lived on the boat until he became ill and moved to a care home.

Jim was preceded in death by his first wife, Dorothy; his second wife, Cynthia; his brother, Chuck; his son-in-law, Nick; and his son, Edward.

He is survived by his daughter, Tomi (Terry) Oakes; his stepdaughter, Cindi Lee Hudgins; stepson, Rick Lee (Dawn); and several grandchildren.

Friends and Family are invited to a bonfire to raise a beer to Jim (Oly, if you got it), at Red Dog Ranch, 5173 Franklin Road October 19, 2024, beginning at 5 PM. Bring what ever you want to drink, and sit around the fire and share your stories, which we know will be entertaining.