Marvin Hughel Allen

Marvin Hughel Allen, Sr., 88, of Tallahassee, FL, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 14, 2025. He was born on 21 November, 1936 (this is the way he always recited his birthdate), to Burton (Burt) and Alline Allen. Marvin was a cherished husband, father, step-father, father-in-law, grandfather (“Papa”), brother, uncle, and friend. He was known for his gruff exterior, soft heart, “colorful” language, and signature one-liners, such as “Play Ball!” which he would holler after the pastor said the last Amen at Sunday church services. He graduated from Pensacola High School in 1955 and immediately enlisted in the Army and became a draftsman, creating detailed technical drawings and plans for various Army projects. He was later able to use his Army experience to obtain his professional architectural license and was very proud of his lifelong architectural career. A few of the notable projects he designed or redesigned were the Ranger Station at Key West State Park, Yamato’s Japanese Steakhouse and Hibachi Restaurant in Pensacola, and Vaughan Gators alligator and deer processing plant in Tallahassee. He opened his first architectural office on Garden Street in downtown Pensacola circa 1970, where his sister, Marie, worked as his secretary. He designed his business logo using his three initials and “MHA” also became a family nickname for him. Marvin married his first wife, Janell, in 1959 and they had two children together, Marvin, Jr., and Angela. Marvin and Janell divorced and he later married his second wife, Lana. They divorced, then remarried, and redivorced. He married his third wife and love-of-his-life, Carol, on January 27, 1982; they were married for almost 41 years, until the time of her death in December of 2022. To start their life together, he moved to Gulf Breeze, where Carol and her three children already lived, so that the kids would not have to change schools; he also moved his architectural practice to Gulf Breeze, where Carol later became his secretary. When Marvin met and married Carol, she was a single mother raising three children. Without hesitation, he loved and treated her kids as his own. His presence, support, and steady hand helped shape all of their lives. He not only helped provide for their needs, but offered them guidance, structure, and love and was always there when anyone needed him. He embraced fully his role as a stepfather and became a deeply respected and cherished part of their everyday lives and family story. Marvin had a passion for boating and he and Carol were always on the water at Pensacola Beach, Pensacola Bay, and Santa Rosa Sound on their Boston Whaler center console or their Prindle catamaran sailboat, which Marvin affectionately named the “Carol Ann”. He was also a licensed pilot, following in the footsteps of both his mother and father, and an avid amateur photographer, who could always be seen with a camera strapped to his shoulder or on a tripod at his children’s and grandchildren’s games and events. He rarely, if ever, missed any of their activities! He was also known for his cooking skills, especially his Bananas Foster, Red Beans and Rice, Shrimp Creole, Pompano en Papillote, and Sweet Potato Casserole at Thanksgiving! Marvin and Carol moved to Tallahassee, FL, in 1992 where all three of Carol’s then-adult children were living. Marvin loved spending time with his wife, kids, grandkids, and their circle of friends. He attended Florida State University (FSU) football tailgates and parties, spent many days on the water, and went on countless camping and beach trips over the years with his family. Marvin and Carol never turned down an invitation to be with their family; they always said yes – to random meals out on a Tuesday night, games/movies on Fridays, and, especially, Sunday dinners. They were pretty much up for anything as long as they could be together with their kids and grandkids. Marvin maintained his private architectural practice on a part-time basis from his home office in Tallahassee and also worked as an architect for the State of Florida at the Department of Corrections (FDC), then the Florida Park Service (FPS), and then the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA); he (finally) retired from AHCA at the age of 81. He maintained his architectural license well past retirement, and told his kids as recently as 2024, when he had already moved to an assisted living facility, that he didn’t want to get rid of any of his home office furniture, supplies, etc., because he might still take on some clients! Marvin didn’t always take the best care of himself, saying he felt like it didn’t matter because he was going to die young, anyway, like his father, who died at the age of 61. However, even though he was in poor health for many, many years, he kept bouncing back from every illness and fall, beating all odds, time and time again, to the point that it started to be a running joke in our family that Papa was going to outlive all of us! Marvin is survived by his three step-children, Ken Harley (Melissa), Ron Harley (Jamie), and Vicki Tatilian (Desi); his sister, Marie Antone (Butch), and sister-in-law, Etta Allen (the late Billy); 11 grandchildren, Luke Beyers, Brooke Tatilian, Desmond “Corbin/Des” Tatilian (Jillian), Shelby Harris (Hunter), Tyler Copeland, Clayton Harley, Ashley Copeland, Alyssa Harley, Tristan Harley, Aidan Tatilian, and Thatcher “TJ” Harley; three great-grandchildren, Sage, Gabryel, and Zaxiery Beyers; three nephews, Jeff Allen (Cheryl), Tracy Allen (Kasi), Burt Antone; and two nieces, Toni Wickersham (Nick), and Brittany Antone (Clara). Marvin was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Carol Allen; his parents, Burt and Alline Allen; his brother, Billy Allen (Etta); his children, Marvin Allen, Jr., and Angela Allen; and his granddaughter, Jennifer Allen. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at Bevis Funeral Home, 200 John Knox Road, Tallahassee, FL 32303. The family will be receiving visitors prior to the service, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Marvin will receive military honors at 1:00 p.m. at the Tallahassee National Cemetery, 5015 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, FL 32311, where he will be laid to rest with his beloved wife, Carol Ann. The family wishes to thank Allegro Assisted Living and Big Bend Hospice for their exceptional care and support during this time. Marvin will be deeply missed but forever remembered. Jared Padgett of Bevis Funeral Home is assisting the family with their arrangements. (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com)

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Marvin Hughel Allen

November 21, 1936 - July 14, 2025