Thomas Edward Allen

On Tuesday September 21st, 2022, at age 84 Thomas Edward Allen of Columbia was called home after a long journey with cancer.  He passed peacefully, while surrounded by his family.

Born August 22, 1938, in Louisville, KY to Alene Hieronymus and Joseph Allen.  Later moving to Columbia where he grew up and graduated from University High, soon after joining the Air Force, graduating with high honors and later raising a family with his first wife Ann Jackson. 

Thomas had an adventurous spirit which led him to moving his family to small mountain town in Colorado to give his hand at Home Decorating.  Thomas and Ann raised their two children here and later divorced in 1982.  

A man and master of many talents.  Thomas followed his father’s love of woodworking through his life and later become a master ceramicist.  He loved to adventure in the outdoors and was always up for unknown backroads drive with some good country tunes playing loud.  You could always count on that with Thomas.  His love of music bubbled over at gatherings and out came the guitars and picks and songbooks or favorite tunes collected over the years.  His interests were wide and usually quite in depth.  Mountains, stars, and crafting with his family were what fed him most throughout his lifetime.

Later marrying Carolee Sanchez who passed away in 2011.  Spending over 30 years together Thomas and Carolee traveled, sang songs, wrote poetry, opened a Native Art Gallery and eventually settled back on his family farm in Sedalia, Missouri.  Here he began his study of ceramics which he carried on until his final days.  Blessing everyone with his beautiful works!  If you knew Thomas, your cupboards are most likely filled with his talents. 

What we will remember most about Thomas is his quiet presence, tho unwavering & steady.  His love of music and movies, long drives and wealth of knowledge and uncanny memory.  A big-hearted renaissance man that will be deeply missed.  He was a teacher to each and every one of us.

Thomas was survived by his two children Tom Allen and Sarah Allen as well as his two sisters Mary and Joann.  Stepchildren; SueCarol, Paul and Miguel, and his grandchildren Tyler, Cody, Lindsey and Megan and his great grandchildren Jack and Lily.  His nieces Patty, Kathy and Mary and nephews Scott and Lias.  Thomas was predeceased by both his parents and wife Carolee Sanchez Allen and niece Jenny Fitzgerald.

Big thank you to all who were part of his care team during his final months.  Patty Fitzgerald, Joann Allen, Cathy Kleinsorge, Sam Baldwin and all his amazing hospice staff who were truly amazing! 

Contributions can be made to Wounded Warriors in honor of Thomas’s love of military & WWII history and stories of these men who fought. 

Celebration of his life will be held at Bach-Yager Funeral Chapel at 1610 N. Garth Avenue, Columbia, MO at 3PM.  Military honors will be acknowledged at 3:45pm.  A gathering afterwards will be held at his home on St. Charles Rd.

“As long as we remember a person, they’re not really gone. Their thoughts, their feelings, their memories, they become a part of us.”

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