Barbara Jo Paxton Allen, 84, passed away peacefully March 16, 2007, after a short period of hospitalization for cancer.

She was born Nov. 12, 1922, in Los Angeles to Joe and Helen Paxton of Santa Barbara, Calif.

Barbara Jo (B. Jo) graduated from the University of Washington and was married to Ensign (Capt.) Thomas E. Allen for 64 years.

She is survived by her husband, Tom; four loving children, James, Julia, Scott and Mary Jo Deuel; six grandchildren, Paul, Mark, Eric, Nicholas, Alexis and Paxton Deuel, and her brother, Jay R. Paxton of Ahwahnee, Calif.

B. Jo was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta, past board member of the Sunset Club, Sixty Year recipient of Girl Scouts service, Woman’s University Club member, longtime University Presbyterian Church member and a Laurelhurst Fatty Fleet member. She would willingly volunteer for any job and was always ready to travel worldwide with her husband and family.

B. Jo enjoyed skiing and raced for years with the Pacific Northwest Ski Association. She was past president of Ancient Skiers and recently inducted into the Northwest Skier Hall of Fame.

B. Jo’s enjoyment of the outdoors (camping, hiking, horseback riding, skiing) and the love of baking from scratch were passed along to her children and grandchildren over the years. She was always there as a caring wife, mother and grandmother. B. Jo enriched the lives of lifelong friends through her kind spirit and joy of giving.

She was the part-time owner, since 1965, of the farm called Admiralty Horse Farm LLC. She road horses for many years on the farm and county roads on the island. B. Jo owned thoroughbred horses with husband Tom and raced them at Longacres and Emerald Downs. Leading horse in number of wins at Emerald Downs was Kimos Friend, named after a farm bull. The family will continue operating the farm on South Whidbey.

A memorial service was held on Thursday, March 22, at University Presbyterian Church, Seattle. Donations can be made to the Girl Scouts-Totem Council (www.girlscouts totem.org).