Darrell James Allen's Obituary
Darrell James Allen passed away on September 16, 2025, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his sweetheart and children.
Born on January 26, 1957, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Arthur (Bonnie) Allen and Luana (Dee) Slagowski, Darrell graduated from Jordan High School and went on to become a true jack of all trades. Over the years, his career spanned roles as a Draper City officer, sheep herder, truck driver, and volunteer firefighter, but he took the most pride in his work as a heavy equipment operator. He was often assigned the jobs “that couldn’t be done” and enjoyed cutting new roads and creating oil rig sites across the Basin; knowing he was leaving a physical mark on this earth, just as he did on our hearts.
Darrell lived a full and adventurous life, leaving us with cherished memories of horseback riding across Cedar Fort Valley, Soldier Creek, and Strawberry while herding sheep; teaching us how to drive in Ol’ Red; two-stepping with his sweetheart; singing and playing guitar around the bonfire; starting water fights at family reunions; and spending endless hours playing cards while sharing his funny (and often wild) stories of adventure and mischief.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley “Lexi” Allen, and his children:
Deejay (Rachel) Allen; grandchildren Libby and Nate
Lydia (Robert) Wageman; grandchildren Madison, Harmony, and Wyatt
Terri (Martin) Barker; grandchildren Christoph, Danielle, James, and Marti
Terra (Barry) Merriam; grandchildren Larry and Nicole
Darrell is also survived by his many great-grandchildren, his father Dee, his brothers Dennis (JoAnn) and Dondee (Angie), and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Arthur (Bonnie) Allen and Louana Slagowski, his brothers Darcy and Duane (Marlene) Allen, and his great-grandson Vance Deveraux.
Darrell’s greatest love was his “Sugar” and his family. He often reminded us to look at the moon whenever we felt far apart. We find comfort in believing his beloved dog, Darby, was there to greet him on the other side. For now, we’ll always look at the moon and say, “See you in a minute.”
A celebration of Darrell’s life will be held in the spring at his homestead in Tabiona. Family and friends will be notified once details are finalized.
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