James Harvey Allen, 88, of Beaumont passed away January 1, 2014 at Harbor Hospice.
A gathering of family and friends will be held Friday, January 3, 2014 from 5:00- 7:00 pm at Claybar Kelley Watkins Funeral Home with a funeral service to follow Saturday, January 4 at 2:00 p.m. also at the funeral home. Interment will be at Haven of Rest where military honors will be provided by the Southeast Texas Veterans Service Group.
Mr. Allen was preceded in death by his wife, Viola Allen; his son, John Michael Allen; sister, Jeanette Vera Guilbeaux and brother, Larry Allen.
He is survived by his daughters, Jamie K Allen-Fetters and her husband, Brent, of Lewisville, TX and Kimberly Joyce Wolfford and her husband, Stephen, of Orange, TX. Also surviving him are his grandchildren, Michael Corey Graves, Courtney Lynn Graves Smith, Jennifer Allen Collins and Jarad Michael Allen; great-grandchildren, Trevor Thomas Graves, Taylor James Graves, Preston Graham Smith, Kanon Michael Allen, and Westin Michael Graves; and brothers, Lenny Ray Allen, Darwin Vernon Allen and Phillip Allen.
In 1941, at the age of 16, with his mother’s permission, James Allen enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corp. He served as a sharp shooter and demolition technician and was engaged in battle at Guadalcanal, Guam and on the island of Iwo Jima. He was honorably discharged in December of 1945.
After returning home he began working for S.W. Bell telephone and retired after 35 years.