Robert ‘Gail’ Allen

March 11, 1937 – March 17, 2026

Robert “Gail” Allen of Lovell passed away at the tender age of 89 at the North Big Horn Hospital in Lovell on March 17, 2026. 

He was born on March 11, 1937, to Camille and Lilly (McMurry) Albach in Luray, Kansas. He joined his sister, Cammie, and his brother, Murray. Later, another sister, Carlene, joined the family. 

Their dad, being in different occupations, lived in many different towns throughout their young lives. Gail graduated from Rawlins High School in Rawlins, Wyoming, in 1955. He met Janice Gill in high school, and they married on August 29, 1955. They were married more than 70 years.

Gail started out in road construction and lived in many locations. Their son, Robert Gail Allen Jr., was born in Alliance, Nebraska, in 1956. In 1958, son David Neil was born in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado. Gail and Janice moved to Cheyenne in 1959, and Gail began his career in car sales. Their daughter, Tracy Marlene, was born in 1960 in Cheyenne. Then in 1961, son Steven James was also born in Cheyenne. 

In 1964, Gail completed auction school in Kansas City, Missouri. He became a successful auctioneer for more than 40 years. The family moved to Caldwell, Idaho, in 1972. While in Idaho, the family worked and traveled together all over the Western United States for auctions. Each of the four kids received a $20 bill and a set of luggage for graduation. After all the kids graduated from high school, and they lost all their free help, Gail and Janice worked and moved to several places, Saratoga, Wyoming, Billings, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

Gail and Janice moved back to Wyoming in 1988 and settled on their farm near Lovell. In between his auctions, car sales and traveling, he was busy farming. In 2005 he finally retired, which allowed them to travel for several years to Yuma, Arizona. They made many friends while there. Gail and Janice sold their beloved farm and moved into town in 2020. 

He was always pulling pranks as a kid with his brother Murray and later as an adult in collusion with his kids. He was a lot of fun to be around. He was a fantastic dancer, a great piano player and picked up the bass guitar in his later years. He was a wonderful storyteller, and all of his stories of his adventures were true. He will truly be missed by everyone who knew him. 

Gail was preceded in death by his parents, brother Murray and sister Cammie (Art) Bell. 

He is survived by his loving wife, Janice, of Lovell; sister Carlene (Everett) Johnson of Fort Morgan, Colorado; sons Bob (Jeanette) of North Carolina, David (Eve) of Billings and Steve (Laura) of Lovell; daughter Tracy (Rick) Landeis of Sheridan; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. 

Gail is now able to tell his stories again, play the piano and dance all he can. 

Haskell Funeral Home in Lovell is in charge of arrangements. Services will be held at a later date.