DOUGLAS MACGREGOR ALLAN

1924 - 2014

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, left Lopez Island and moved into a retirement home in Enumclaw, Washington.

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 began. 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. Unbeknownst to Doug, his future bride and her sisters often stopped at that station to get their bicycle tires filled. Doug moved to Mt Vernon his junior year where he attended classes at Mt Vernon High School with Bruce Parker. The two would reconnect years later as brother-in-laws and fathers of a total of nine girls!

After high school, Doug received a football scholarship that led him to Western Washington College in Bellingham. His education was interrupted by service to his country in 1943 during World War II. He was stationed in France after D-Day with his Army unit where he repaired jeeps and trucks as fast as they broke down. Doug returned safely to complete his Industrial Management degree at the University of Washington, where he met Barbara who was working towards her education degree.

They married in 1949, and after the arrival of their last child, Doug built a home for his family in Kirkland where they lived for more than 45 years. He focused on his passion for the science of metallurgy which led him to a 47 year career as the owner of Pacific Metallurgical Inc in Kent. Eventually his wife, daughters, son-in laws and grandson shared his passion for the business, making it their career. Many of his grand-children also worked at Grandpa's plant saving for college. He truly built a family business.

Doug and Barbara 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), Jess Dodson, Byron Lillie, Stephenie Ramage (Ryan), Sara Gerlitz, Jennifer Gerlitz, John Gerlitz and Robert Gerlitz. And Great-Grandpa to 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.

Once retired, Doug and Barbara moved into their vacation home on beautiful Lopez Island. This was their happy place, where the family has gathered to crab, fish and hang out on the beach since 1965. Doug had a wonderful life and will always be remembered for his love of family.