ALLEN, Peter Bishop - Our beloved Peter Bishop Allen, Marin County native, died suddenly on Thursday, June 3, 2004 at the age of 60. Deeply loved father, brother, Uncle and friend, he will be greatly missed. He is survived by his daughter, Molly Ann Allen; his brother, Howard Wheatley Allen; and two sisters, Joelle Allen Harris and Susie Allen De Baker; as well as nephews, nieces, a great-nephew and two great-nieces, cousins and countless dear friends.

Born on Nov. 1, 1943, Peter grew up in Kent Woodlands. In 1967 the Allen family moved to Stinson Beach where Peter resided for the remainder of his life. Peter Allen is a well-known Marin County "woodcarver extraordinaire." His marine mammal sculptures created from old salvaged redwood railroad ties are a legacy that will live forever in many Marin homes & public galleries. A lover of wildlife, a charmer to all that met him, and an avid surfer, Peter became a legend in his own time. He was one of the original surfers at Stinson Beach, surfing on his homemade hollow boards, without a wetsuit. He loved the sea, the sky and every sunset as if it were the last. Peter had a great love for children as was exemplified in his creation of "The Kids Camp" at Stinson Beach, a program he created to teach children the beauty of nature and their surroundings through art projects, hikes and exploration of the world around them.

A self-taught musician, Peter could play a wide variety of instruments including banjo, piano, trombone and his well known "squeezebox." He played in many "Dixieland" bands beginning with his first band, the Crewmen, back in 1960. He was forever making people laugh and is remembered for his "clowning around and sometime trouble making." Donations can be made to the "Molly Ann Allen Trust" care of Wayne Holter, PO Box 517, Ross, CA 94957.