Doran J Erickson Afton, Wyoming Obituary

Doran J Erickson

<p>Doran J Erickson was born April 19, 1947 in Afton, Wyoming, the youngest of seven children, to Clarence Henry and Emily Barrus Erickson.&nbsp; He spent his childhood in Osmond, growing up in the same house he lived in at the time of his death.&nbsp; He always loved sports and would practice shooting baskets, hitting rocks with sticks and kicking the football, sometimes to the detriment of his farm chores.</p> <p>Doran attended school in Osmond and Smoot and graduated from Star Valley High School in 1965, where he was the Student Body President.&nbsp; He attended Snow College where he was the placekicker for the football team and played on the basketball team.&nbsp; He served as a Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the New England States Mission.&nbsp; In addition to Snow College, Doran attended Ricks College, Utah State University and the University of Wyoming.&nbsp; He earned Bachelors and Masters degrees in Elementary Education.&nbsp; Doran taught the children of &nbsp;Lincoln County</p> <p>School District #2 as a 6th grade teacher and elementary PE coach for 31 years. He taught and coached in Hanna/Elk Mountain for one year. He returned to Star Valley and drove bus and was a substitute teacher for many years.Doran married Debra Hillyard in the Idaho Falls LDS temple on September 5th, 1969.&nbsp; They lived in Logan while attending school, moving back to Star Valley upon graduation.</p> <p>Doran loved to play, watch and study sports.&nbsp; He loved to share his knowledge with his children and grandchildren, their friends and even strangers-anyone willing to learn and practice.&nbsp; Doran coached summer baseball and soccer teams, 7th grade boys basketball, Varsity high school girls basketball, JV and Varsity high school football, winning several statewide championships for his beloved Star Valley Braves. He loved Star Valley High School and the Wyoming Cowboys.</p> <p>Doran loved the outdoors and spent countless hours in the mountains of Star Valley and Greys River.&nbsp; He had numerous jobs in the forest including tree thinning contracts, cleaning trails and as a hunting guide.&nbsp; He loved trail riding to see new country and look for wildlife.&nbsp; He loved to ride to mountain peaks, lakes and streams to fish and camp.&nbsp;</p> <p>Doran was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.&nbsp; He served many in church and in the community. Doran passed away peacefully on October 4, 2020 at Portneuf Medical Center after a brief but valiant battle with an illness while FaceTiming his eternal sweetheart.</p> <p>Doran was preceded in death by his parents, brother Verd Erickson, sisters Carol Erickson and Gayle Izatt, grandson Kambel Hebdon and daughter in law Crystal H. Erickson.&nbsp; He is survived by his wife of 51 years Debra H. Erickson of Osmond and children Robert (Becky) of Cumming, GA, Daniel &ldquo;Harve&rdquo; Erickson of Grover, Dyann (Jason) Cazier of Auburn, Brian (Maurie) of Auburn, Deirdre (Kade) Hebdon of Grover, Dustin (Josie) of Osmond, Devin of Fraser, Colorado and Deja (Bronson) Bennett of Kemmerer, 24 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and another expected in February, and 3 brothers, Val Dee, Albert McKay, and H. Steven.&nbsp; He will be greatly missed and although his absence will be profound, he most definitely lives on in each of us that were blessed to know him.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
April 19, 1947 - October 4, 202004/19/194710/04/2020
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Obituary

Doran J Erickson was born April 19, 1947 in Afton, Wyoming, the youngest of seven children, to Clarence Henry and Emily Barrus Erickson.  He spent his childhood in Osmond, growing up in the same house he lived in at the time of his death.  He always loved sports and would practice shooting baskets, hitting rocks with sticks and kicking the football, sometimes to the detriment of his farm chores.

Doran attended school in Osmond and Smoot and graduated from Star Valley High School in 1965, where he was the Student Body President.  He attended Snow College where he was the placekicker for the football team and played on the basketball team.  He served as a Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the New England States Mission.  In addition to Snow College, Doran attended Ricks College, Utah State University and the University of Wyoming.  He earned Bachelors and Masters degrees in Elementary Education.  Doran taught the children of  Lincoln County

School District #2 as a 6th grade teacher and elementary PE coach for 31 years. He taught and coached in Hanna/Elk Mountain for one year. He returned to Star Valley and drove bus and was a substitute teacher for many years.Doran married Debra Hillyard in the Idaho Falls LDS temple on September 5th, 1969.  They lived in Logan while attending school, moving back to Star Valley upon graduation.

Doran loved to play, watch and study sports.  He loved to share his knowledge with his children and grandchildren, their friends and even strangers-anyone willing to learn and practice.  Doran coached summer baseball and soccer teams, 7th grade boys basketball, Varsity high school girls basketball, JV and Varsity high school football, winning several statewide championships for his beloved Star Valley Braves. He loved Star Valley High School and the Wyoming Cowboys.

Doran loved the outdoors and spent countless hours in the mountains of Star Valley and Greys River.  He had numerous jobs in the forest including tree thinning contracts, cleaning trails and as a hunting guide.  He loved trail riding to see new country and look for wildlife.  He loved to ride to mountain peaks, lakes and streams to fish and camp. 

Doran was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He served many in church and in the community. Doran passed away peacefully on October 4, 2020 at Portneuf Medical Center after a brief but valiant battle with an illness while FaceTiming his eternal sweetheart.

Doran was preceded in death by his parents, brother Verd Erickson, sisters Carol Erickson and Gayle Izatt, grandson Kambel Hebdon and daughter in law Crystal H. Erickson.  He is survived by his wife of 51 years Debra H. Erickson of Osmond and children Robert (Becky) of Cumming, GA, Daniel “Harve” Erickson of Grover, Dyann (Jason) Cazier of Auburn, Brian (Maurie) of Auburn, Deirdre (Kade) Hebdon of Grover, Dustin (Josie) of Osmond, Devin of Fraser, Colorado and Deja (Bronson) Bennett of Kemmerer, 24 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and another expected in February, and 3 brothers, Val Dee, Albert McKay, and H. Steven.  He will be greatly missed and although his absence will be profound, he most definitely lives on in each of us that were blessed to know him.    

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Oct
08
Viewing
Thursday, October 08 2020
09:00 AM - 10:45 AM
Afton Tabernacle
325 Jefferson St
Afton, WY 83110
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Oct
08
Funeral Service
Thursday, October 08 2020
11:00 AM
Afton Tabernacle
325 Jefferson St
Afton, WY 83110
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