Doran Eldridge

Funeral services for Doran Eldridge will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, April 25, 2008 at the First Assembly Of God Church with Pastor Orvil Holden officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Pisgah Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Thursday, April 24, 2008 at Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home.Doran F. Eldridge, age 79, of Gillette, Wyoming died on Monday, April 21, 2008 at Rapid City Regional Hospital of natural causes.Doran Floyd Eldridge was born on September 20, 1928 the son of William and Alice (Sargent) Eldridge in Brewster, Nebraska. At a young age Doran moved with his family to Wyoming, which his father sold a team of horses and wagon for a 1926 or 1927 truck to precede to Turnercrest, Wyoming. The family then moved on to Gillette, Wyoming in 1935. Later that year they moved west of Gillette where Doran attended school in the Force country school. In 1936, he changed schools to attend Beck school which was closer to his home than the Force school. Late in 1940, he moved again this time to Rocky Point. In 1943, he moved to town with his sister, Winifred to attend high school and made the scrub team in football as a freshman. Late in November after Thanksgiving Doran got to feeling bad like the flu and Dr. Hoadly diagnosis him with Polio at the age of 15. He was in the Casper Memorial Hospital from December 4, 1943 until July of 1944. Doran learned to walk with crutches and braces before he could be released from the hospital. He returned to Campbell County High School where he had 3 floors to go up and down, two football players would have Doran put his arms on their shoulders to help him go up or down the stairs. He used to stay after school every night to watch the football team practice, and was given a football letter when they handed them out after the football season which was very special to him. Doran graduated in 1947, and attended Vocational Rehab Training Foundation which tested him to see if he might be able to work in a dental lab. He was hired on as a dental technician trainee by Bernard Freeman in Sheridan on July 7, 1947. In 1952, he made a trip by train to New York City on a vacation and it was an adventure in his young life as Doran got a look at the Atlantic Ocean. Early in 1954, Doran started courting Cony Mae Dye. The couple was married on September 18, 1954, in Edgerton, Wyoming in her home town church with her brother Ernie performing the ceremony. To this union 4 children were born: Michael, Thomas, Patrick and Kathleen. In February 1956, Doran went to work in Albuquerque, New Mexico to work as a private technician then returned to Sheridan for a short while and then on to Norfolk, Nebraska. In June of 1957, He moved his family to Casper, Wyoming. Where he worked until deciding to start his own dental lab in Gillette in April 15, 1965 he opened the Dental Lab on Third Street. He served the dental community in Northern Wyoming until he had a surgery scheduled a few weeks ago. Doran had planned on returning to work following his recovery. In July of 2004 Doran and Cony Mae celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. He truly enjoyed visiting with family and friends. Doran was happy to serve in his church since joining the congregation in 1965. The highlight of his time was watching the Kansas City Chiefs, playing with his dog (Jake) and spending time with his children and grandchildren.Doran is survived by his wife, Cony Mae Eldridge of Gillette, Wyoming; sons: Michael (JoAnne) Eldridge of Kesheena, Wisconsin, Thomas (Mary Jo) Eldridge of Flagstaff, Arizona, Patrick Eldridge of Rawlins, Wyoming; daughter, Kathleen (Steve) Warfield of Gillette, Wyoming; grandchildren: Micah Eldridge of Kesheena, Wisconsin, Timothy Eldridge of Phoenix, Arizona, Rebecca Newman of Phoenix, Arizona, James Eldridge of Fort Hood, Texas, Robert Barnes of Flagstaff, Arizona, Craig Warfield of Gillette, Wyoming, Lindee Warfield of Gillette, Wyoming, Mindy Warfield of Gillette, Wyoming and numerous nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers: Jim, Wayne, Bill and sister, Winifred.Memorials and condolences may be sent in Doran's name in care of Stevenson-Wilson Funeral Home, 210 W. 5th Street, Gillette, Wyoming 82716 or via the internet at www.stevensonwilson.com.