Joe Allen was born in Seattle, the firstborn child of Ron and Merine Allen. Ron and Merine moved to Sequim when Joe was 4 years old and he attended the Seventh Day Adventist Day School until 7th grade, when he transferred to the Sequim Schools, graduating from Sequim High School in 2003. He was active in sports, including Little League and district basketball teams in middle and high school. He was active in the Sequim Community Church’s Youth Group. He loved playing bass guitar with his friends in the band ‘The Irregulars’.
He attended Western Washington University and finished up his Bachelor’s Degree in Business at the University of Washington in 2017. He returned to school at Washington State University, earning a Masters in Business Administration in 2019.
Joe worked in Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal enterprises beginning at the age of 12 at Jamestown Fireworks. He worked for 7 Cedars Casino for 12 years, rising to the level of Casino Operations Manager. He served for many years on the EDA Board of Directors, as well as the JKT Development/JEX, and Jamestown Capital Boards.
In August 2021, he was hired as the Executive Director of the Tribe’s Economic Development Authority, where for 3 years he oversaw the expansion and addition of several new Tribal businesses. Joe was very proud of the accomplishments of the Tribe, both for its people and for the larger community. He fully appreciated the forward-thinking vision of Tribal Councils, its Economic Development Authority, 7 Cedars properties and Health Care Program.
Joe loved his parents, sister Amber and brother-in-law Ilan Jones, and especially being Uncle Joe to his nephews Faelan and Vidar Jones. Family was important to Joe, and he loved his extended family, including aunts, uncles and cousins from both sides of his family. He enjoyed exploring his lineage on Ancestry.com, as well as travel to Asia, Europe, Central America and the South Pacific.
He was a kind, funny and generous man who loved his family and friends. Everyone remembers Joe’s smile, laughter and great embracing spirit. He made friends wherever he encountered them, and recently said “My friends are my heart.”
A Celebration of Life will be held at 10 am on Saturday, November 2 in the Blyn Bay Room at 7 Cedars Hotel, with refreshments following in the Cedar Room.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s Higher Education Scholarship Fund. Please send checks to Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Attn. Accounting Dept., 1033 Old Blyn Highway, Sequim, WA 98382. Please write Joe Allen/Higher Ed in the memo line.