otcallen.html

The Cordova Times, Cordova, AK., May 13, 1982, page 1

ALLEN MISSING AFTER BOAT MISHAP
By Nancy Bird, Times Editor

Tragedy beset a party of three clam diggers at Softuk Bar, east of the Copper River, after their skiff floated out of reach last Saturday morning, May 8. Terence C. Allen is presumed drowned following his attempt to swim to the party's anchored vessel, the Brandy, a 42-foot seiner.
Allen did reach the vessel, anchored about 50 yards from shore, according to State Trooper Gerald Denison. However, he was unable to pull himself on board and was last seen by Robert and Lillian Wymore, who had accompanied Allen on the trip.
An initial attempt was made to reach the loose skiff, said Denison. When that failed, he said Allen ran down the beach to reach the closest point to the Brandy, disrobed and swam for the boat.
Denison said the Wymores were able to flag a passing plane piloted by Fish and Wildlife officer Rod King about an hour after Allen's unsuccessful attempt to reach the boat.
King landed and taxied the Wymores to the vessel and then notified the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard of the circumstances.
According to Denison, search efforts by both the U.S. Coast Guard and Fish and Wilslife officials have been unable to locate Allen's body.
Because the Wymores were unfamiliar with the vessel, Denison and 1st Sgt. John Stimson, skipper of the Fish and Wildlife vessel Enforcer, were flown to the Brandy by Chisum Flying Service Saturday afternoon and drove it back to Cordova.
Allen, who was 42 years old, had fished out of Cordova since 1964. A winter resident in Lyle, Wash., he was bringing his new seiner up from Washington for the upcoming season. The Wymores, from Hood River, Ore., had joined him for the trip.
Allen is survived by his wife, Margaret; son, Wayne, of Auburn, Wash., daughter and son-in-law, Brenda and Steve Little, of Cook, Wash., and a three-week old grandson, Spencer.
Also surviving are two sisters, Marilyn Nielsen of Cook, Wash. And Alberta Newton of Portland, Ore., and a brother, Ferris Allen of Bingen, Wash.
Memorial services were held Wednesday at the Cordova Community Baptist Church. The family has asked that memorial contributions be made to the Cordova Emergency Medical Fund.