Jewell Van Allen, 103

Jewell Van Allen of Columbia Falls passed away on Feb. 6, 2023 at the age of 103. She was born Jan. 9, 1920 near Amarillo, Texas, the sixth child of Edward and Mary Susan (Brooks) Rea.

She attended schools in Amarillo and Gainesville, Texas. After high school she attended college in Gainesville and Denton, Texas. At the beginning of World War II, college was interrupted for the war effort. She went to work at Camp Howze, a newly constructed Army base near Gainesville. She remained there in Personnel and later in Quartermaster as an administrative assistant until the war ended and the base was completely dismantled, returning the land to the original farmers and ranchers.

In January of 1948, Jewell married H. E. Van Allen in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The same spring, they moved to Columbia Falls and built Rocky Mountain Lumber Co. at the edge of Columbia Falls, as well as a new home. They owned several lumber mills in the area and also operated Van Allen Tax Service in later years. Traveling was always important for business and pleasure, which included every state and half of them several times. They also covered all of Canada and Mexico in their travels.

Jewell's greatest asset was her sense of humor. She spent many hours sending pages and pages of jokes to her many friends. She was full of advice and took genuine pleasure in meeting new people. She enjoyed entertaining, having visitors, hiring young people, writing letters, gardening, sewing and being involved in the stock market.

She was preceded in death by her husband in January of 1989, also by her parents, five brothers and her only sister. She is survived by a few nephews and nieces, great nephews and great nieces, and many close friends.

At her request, no services are planned. In her memory, she asks that you take someone you love to dinner, hug a friend and be good to your family.

Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is caring for Jewell.