Christon Conrad Allen

We are heartbroken to share that on Tuesday, January 6, 2021, Christon Conrad Allen, beloved husband and father of four children, passed away at the age of 69.

Chris was born on November 9, 1951, in Safford, Arizona to Conrad and Kay Allen. He graduated from Mesa High School in 1969 and Arizona State University with a degree in business. He loved his country and served honorably in the US Navy for four years, stationed on the USS Kitty Hawk in the Vietnam War. On October 25, 1975 he married the love of his life, Deborrah Lynn Burnham. Together they raised two daughters, Heather and Rebecca and two sons, Daniel and Nathaniel.

His devotion and love for his Savior and others was evident in the way he served. He was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many callings, among which his favorites included Institute and Gospel Doctrine Teacher, Cub Master, and Primary Pianist. He was especially dedicated to the families he ministered to as a Home Teacher, as one special Home Teacher had been instrumental in his own wife and children joining the church.

His business efforts focused primarily on helping business owners structure their businesses for capital growth. This form of development helped businesses grow and otherwise expand into new markets and helped business owners achieve their goals. He loved working with new and small businesses. He believed this was where the most value could be created and success achieved.

Dad was a man of many interests, hobbies, and talents. He fell in love with magic at a young age, and many knew him best by his stage name Professor Presto. He performed many shows all over the state of Arizona and across the US, he also appeared on TV on the Hollywood Palace. Dad considered himself a chef, a poet, a composer, an author, a matchmaker, a singer, a teacher, an entrepreneur, and a gardener, amongst many other titles. Dad was widely read, and always ready to share insight into the deeper meanings of life. He loved to laugh and was never afraid to poke fun at himself and others, yet he was also quick to give a compliment and make you feel like you were the most talented person in the world.

Chris was preceded in death by his father, Conrad, his mother Kay and his brother Kevin. He is survived by his wife Debbie, his four children and 16 grandchildren: Heather Prusse (husband Chad, children Zackery, Conner, Halle, Luke and Jackson), Daniel (wife Lynzie, children Evelyn, Micah, Ezra, Levi, Gabriel and Esther), Nathaniel (wife Rachel, children Simon, Violet, Wren, and Wells) and Rebecca Hipps (husband Zach, daughter Claire); his siblings Noel, Cory, Shawn, Melodee, Elizabeth, Anti and Ronnie, as well many other family and friends too numerous to list but not forgotten.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 14th at  920 S. Lindsay Rd. Mesa, AZ at 10:00 a.m. He will be buried on Thursday, January 14th at Gilbert Memorial Park, 2100 E. Queen Creek Rd. Gilbert, AZ at 11:45 pm. We ask all those in attendance to wear a mask and observe social distancing guidelines. The family humbly requests that in lieu of flowers, families and friends can make a donation to the Desert-Marigold School, in honor of the years Chris dedicated to Waldolf education in Arizona and Utah. https://desertmarigold.org/giving/tax-credit/

**To watch a live stream of the services, click here**: https://youtu.be/xpH-fH–iAw