Timothy Allison

SIDNEY — Timothy Harold Allison, known as Tim Allison, died at the age of 70 at 12:48 p.m. on Oct. 6, 2014, at his home at 325 E. Ruth St. in Sidney, Ohio. He was diagnosed with cancer in August 2011. His cause of death remains unknown.

Tim Allison leaves behind his son, Kreg Timothy Allison, who currently lives in Chicago, Illinois. He also leaves behind his life partner, Arline (Hughes) Bogart of Sidney, and her two children, Misty (Bogart) McDowell, her husband, Paul McDowell ,and their two children, and Jonathan Bogart and his two children all of Tipp City, Ohio. Other survivors include Tim's two brothers, Darrell Frederick Allison and Jon Jay Allison and his wife, Elizabeth "Libby," (Tennery) Allison all of Sidney.

Tim was preceded in death by his parents, Harold Otis "Bud" Allison and Nell Marie (Sherrick) Allison of Sidney and his sister-in-law Aileen (Mills) Allison, a Sidney native.

Tim Allison was born on Dec. 6, 1943. He grew up in the Allison family home at 619 S. Highland Ave. in Sidney. Tim attended public schools in Sidney and graduated from Sidney High School in 1961. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Education with a minor in Earth Science in 1965 and a Master of Education in Special Education in 1971, both from Bowling Green State University.

During his training and tenure as a public school teacher, Tim Allison taught briefly at a number of Ohio schools, including Cory-Rawson High, Defiance High, Napoleon High and Toledo Libby High. Immediately after college, Tim taught for Sidney City Schools from 1965 to 1969. At Sidney, he started teaching at Central Junior High and then moved to Sidney High where he taught biology and special education and started the work study program.

Tim Allison knew that people need jobs to make money so they can live. As a kid, he delivered newspapers, worked on farms and at a dairy. In college and grad school, he worked at a Marathon gas station and a Burger Chef. He also laid drain tile for the City of Sidney Water Works, served as Sanitarian for Defiance and Henry Counties in Ohio, and sold services for Multicard of Florida in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

In 1975, Tim went to work for Anna Local Schools. At Anna, Tim taught special education and started the work study program. In addition to serving as a local representative to the Ohio Education Association, Tim developed a very close bond with the people of Anna and the children he taught.

In the mid-1970s, Tim and his brother Jon started Allison Outdoor Shop, Inc., commonly known as "the Rock Shop", located at 104 East Mason Road in Sidney. Due to the growth of the Rock Shop's business, Tim left his teaching career to work at the Rock Shop full time in 1981. By 1983, the business had grown into a successful jewelry store and was renamed Allison's Custom Jewelry, Inc. Avid outdoorsmen, there is a mural painted on one of the interior walls of the jewelry store of Jon and Tim fishing in Alaska.

In 1985, Tim led an effort to start a community festival known as the Shelby County Mayfest, the precursor to the Sidney Mayfest (Soccer) Classic and the Shelby County Applefest. Tim and Jack Toomey, now a former Shelby County Commissioner, served as the first co-chairmen.

"Tim's vision of bringing people from all the local communities together for a county-wide festival became a reality in 1985. He lead the charge of making sure everything went smoothly for the very first Shelby County Mayfest which was held in downtown Sidney and offered various activities for all ages to enjoy," said former Shelby County Commissioner Jack Toomey.

Tim sold his interest in Allison Custom Jewelry Inc. to Libby and Jon Allison in 1988. Shortly thereafter, Tim opened Tim Allison Jewelers, which he operated in Sidney and Piqua, Ohio, until the Great Recession hit at the end of 2008 when he closed the doors in Sidney for good.

Tim Allison was a life member of the Shelby County Deer Hunters Association, and a former member of Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge 568, Ohio Education Association, Shelby County Republican Party Central Committee and Sidney-Shelby County Chamber of Commerce.

Tim Allison loved to tell stories. He loved the great outdoors and the beauty of nature. He loved to listen to and make music. He loved to learn and teach. Most of all, Tim Allison loved people. One of his favorite sayings was, "Love ya. Mean it."

Visitation will be Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Cromes Funeral Home at 302 S. Main Ave. in Sidney.

A celebration of Tim Allison's life will be held on Friday, Oct. 10, 2014, at 10 a.m. at Sidney First United Methodist Church at 230 E. Poplar St. in Sidney. The Rev. Dr. Carl Wiley, formerly of Sidney First United Methodist Church, will be presiding. There will be an additional hour of visitation prior to the celebration.

Tim Allison will be buried at Cedar Point Cemetery in Pasco, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, Tim asked that people use their time and treasure to promote public education, engage in music and preserve the nature around us.

Condolences for the Allison family's loss may be sent to Cromes Funeral Home's website, www.cromesfh.com.