PRIEST RIVER

Claude Allen , better known as “Shorty”, aged 82, passed away on the afternoon of May 12, 2024, at Pacifica Senior Living in Pinehurst, Idaho.

He was born on Nov. 6, 1941, in Wallace, Idaho, to Guy and Edna (Andrus) . On Dec. 22, 1960, Claude married Sharon G. Mitchell in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. They lived in Priest River, Idaho, and had two children, Claudia and Kenny. They were married 43 years before Sharon’s passing in December of 2003. In 2005 Claude married Irene in Las Vegas, Nevada. Together they shared 19 years.

Shorty served in the U.S. Navy from 1959 to 1961.

He worked for years in mining before he began working in the woods. He started working in the tunnels of Boundary Dam and moved through various jobs in the logging industry including working for Ralph Brooks, LP, and Knole’s Logging. Claude moved onto mechanicing with Modern Machinery for a few years but returned to logging with Roy Cliff before retiring in 2004.

“Loved the woods, everything about it!” he would share. Shorty was honored to receive Bull of the Woods 2021, for Priest River’s Timber Days, a standout memory he was so proud of! He genuinely enjoyed the outdoors; yard work, camping, hunting, fishing and particularly elk camp, a highlight of each year for him in the Fall. He loved spending time with his family. Shorty was always up for the company of family or a good friend, who frequently stopped by on “Shorty’s Lane.”

He was a resident of Priest River for more than 60 years. His smile and laughter were contagious and “by golly” he loved to dance!

Claude is survived by his wife Irene , daughter Claudia (Ray) and son Kenny (Sherry), step-daughter Connie Leetch (Randy), daughter-in law Tina , brother Clyde (Cheri), sister-in-law Kathy Mitchell, brother-in-law Wallace Mitchell (Gloria), grandchildren Kassondra (Justin), Kamille (Tyler) Tierney (Max), Cody (Shantelle), Cameron (Brooke) Michael

SEE OBITUARIES, 8B