William Raymond Allen, 79, of Deming, New Mexico marched into Heaven with Jesus on March 4, 2026. He was a resident here in the Land of Enchantment since 2004. Bill was a member of the First Christian Church, as well as the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, the Friends of Rockhound State Park, Inc., and the American Legion Bataan Post #4.
He was born in Santa Paula, California in 1946 where his grandmother had a beautiful citrus ranch in nearby Fillmore in Ventura County. Bill had lots of fond memories of time spent at the ranch as a child. Later on, he and his family traveled to many places around the globe because his father was a pilot in the Navy and was involved with the Naval Missile Test Center: Point Mugu in Southern California; Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands; Hawaii; Memphis, Tennessee; and finally, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Valley High School was Bill's alma mater and after graduation, he followed in his father's footsteps and enlisted in the Navy, with his father swearing him in! Bill proudly served on the USS Yorktown on her flight deck until 1968, when he was honorably discharged and returned to Ventura County.
While working as a reserve deputy with the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, he met his future wife, Sally. Bill eventually secured a Deputy position with the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office in Placerville, Lake Tahoe Division. Sally followed him up there and they were married in 1972 on Fonnette Island in Emerald Bay of Lake Tahoe. His wife, Sally liked to say it was the best wedding they ever attended!
Lake Tahoe was their home for seven years where Bill was a resident deputy on the West Shore, as well as several years living at South Lake Tahoe. In 1979, he put in a transfer down the hill to Placerville and they bought acreage in the small, nearby town of Kelsey close to the south fork of the American river. It was there that they built their home and their son, Logan was born. They attended the Kelsey Bible Church, grew a big garden, kept a few chickens, and had a horse named Arrow. It was a wonderful place for a child to grow up.
After serving the community and helping keep it safe for 27 years, Bill retired and went railroading! He worked for several short line railroads around the western states, including the Puget Sound Pacific in Washington, the California Northern Railroad in Northern California, and the Arizona and California Railroad. He and Sally ended up moving to Deming, New Mexico in 2004, with Bill going to work for the Southwest Railroad for nine years, retiring in 2013.
William is preceded in death by his mother Helen Allen, father Edgar Leslie Allen, and sister Karen Leon. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sally Kaser Allen, their son Logan Hayes Allen and his wife Alissa, sister Marilyn Barnard of Florence, Oregon, sister Margaret (Peg) Osborne and her husband Tom of Bend, Oregon, sister Barbara Cobarrubias, and half/sister Andrea Speers and family of Ventura and Fillmore, California, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of William's life will be held at Baca's Funeral Chapel on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Dr. Michael O'Donnell and Reverand Reggie Price will be officiating. Services will be live streamed. Cremation has been entrusted to Baca's Mimbres Crematory.
Many thanks to Ambercare Hospice Team of Deming---Edna, Morayma, Alex, Maria, Yvonne, Ramona Deeandra and Dr. George Williams for providing such compassionate care for William.
Remembrances may be sent to the American Legion Bataan Post #4 of Deming.
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