Franklin Leroy Gore

LeRoy GORE Funeral services for Franklin LeRoy Gore will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 10 at the Dove Creek First Baptist Church. Pastor Mike Farren will be officiating. Interment will follow at the Dove Creek Cemetery. A visitation has been scheduled Friday morning from 10 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at the Dove Creek First Baptist Church. Franklin LeRoy Gore was born on May 22, 1942 in Cortez to Calvin D. and Cleo (West) Gore. He passed away on Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at San Juan Hospital in Monticello, Utah from complications of Parkinson's disease. He was 72. LeRoy lived his entire life in Dove Creek except for short terms of employment out of the area a couple of times through the years. He worked in various jobs and professions in his younger years, some of which were in service to the town and people of Dove Creek. In 1977, he, along with a partner, bought Fritz-Erickson Mining Co., which became Certified Drillers. He later bought out the partnership and operated the company until he retired in 1980. Due to the untimely death of Louis Bucher, LeRoy was appointed to fulfill the remainder Louis' term on the Board of Dolores County Commissioners. He was then elected by the people to the position for three more consecutive terms. As a lad, LeRoy made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He married Joan Montgomery on December 11, 1961, and into this union were born three children. Jess Douglas, Robert LeRoy, and Kimberly Ann. Who later added four grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. LeRoy loved to hunt and fish. As a boy he would spend many days and weeks, even a month at a time at his Grandparent's ranch, the West's, in Disappointment Valley. Hunting, fishing, and riding horses were the common fare in those carefree days of childhood. When he had children and grandchildren of his own, taking them to the ranch was one of the main things he loved doing for them. So no matter where they lived, he would bring Heather and Shane Gore, and Brandon and Ricky Stephens home specifically to take them on an annual camping and fishing trip. Granddaughter Heather was always his shining star, he adored her. By the time the great grandchildren began to come along, he bought a little piece of that Disappointment ranch and built a cabin there so that they could all continue that cherished lifestyle. He always had a blast with his great grands, too. Recently after a family birthday party he and EmmaLee had a big time being silly blowing party whistles at each other. Dylan loved to tell his granddad adventure stories, some of them about their past visits together and about learning to shoot. Grant, Owen, and Jessy have lived so far away they did not get to visit often, but when they did, what a joy it was for their granddad. One of his most precious experiences was having a great grandson named after him. Baby Lincoln LeRoy Vinci wears his name. LeRoy was preceded in death by his parents, Cal and Cleo Gore; and his two sons, Douglas and Robert. He is survived and will be intensely missed by his wife, Joan; his daughter, Kim Stephens and husband, James of Merkel, Texas; his brother, Derwin Gore and wife, Shannon of Hayden, Colo.; and his sister, Lynn Smith of Dove Creek. Also left to mourn are his four grandchildren, Heather Vinci and Teague of San Diego, Calif., Shane Gore and Velvet of Prineville, Ore., Brandon Stephens and Jennifer, and Ricky Stephens all of Merkel, Texas. There are six great grandchildren, Dyland and EmmaLee Stephens; Grant, Owen, and Jessy Gore and Lincoln Vinci. Memorial donations may be made in LeRoy Gore's memory to the Dove Creek Ambulance Fund at PO Box 474, Dove Creek, Colo. 81324 or to the Dove Creek Fire Department at 130 Cedar Point, Dove Creek, Colo. 81324.