Mayor's Island Review Column

Friends & Family of Pete Allen will gather together at the Emerald Isle Community Center on Friday, November 19 from 6pm - 8pm to express fond memories. Please join us.

October 2010 Island Review

Pete Allen passed away on September 18, 2010

In last months column, I talked about how great it was to see Pete out and about at Louise Rhodes’ birthday party and that he would be moving to Snug Harbor at Nelson Bay in Sea Level. Unfortunately, he passed away at Snug Harbor on September 18, 2010. He drove himself to Snug Harbor the first part of the week and passed away on Saturday. Numerous people offered and almost demanded that they drive him to Snug Harbor. Pete was always independent and wanted to do for himself, so in true Pete fashion he insisted on driving himself to Snug Harbor.

Pete had battled cancer for several years, undergoing several operations and chemo treatments. On each occasion he made a much quicker than expected recovery and stayed very active throughout the county. For the last nine months or so, he knew his health was declining but several things kept his spirits up. Certainly most important were the many friends that stayed in contact with him. Another was his receipt of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award, North Carolina’s most prestigious award. He also received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award from the Swansboro Rotary which was another source of great pride. And another was the writing and publishing of his book “Just Plain Pete, My Life, My Memories”. The book occupied a lot of his time and brought back a lot of great memories from bygone years.

Many of you have known Pete over the years and others didn’t have a chance to know him. Pete and I were good friends and both always said “Emerald Isle didn’t become great last month, last year, etc. It took the actions of many people since its incorporation in 1957 to make it the wonderful small town family beach that it is today”. No one has been more important to that effort than Pete Allen.

There were no services at Pete’s request. Flowers and contributions were not requested. Cards, notes, and emails of condolence can be sent to Pete’s sister Frances Allen at 306 North Main Street, Louisburg, NC 27549 or daughter Fran Daughtridge at fdaught@yahoo.com.

Thank you Pete and we will miss you.

Pictured with Pete Allen from left: former Mayor Lib Heverly, Louise Rhodes, Mayor Art Schools, and former Mayor Vera Gaskins)