Eugene Dare "Gene" Hoiten, 85, of Sheridan WY, passed away on Oct. 15, 2011.

Gene was born to Beula (Fugate) Moreland and Lowell G. Hoiten on Aug. 22, 1926, in Correctionville, Iowa. He moved to Sheridan as a young boy and was quick to embrace the cowboy way of life.

He held a passion for horses, for rodeo (as a participant in both the saddle bronc and calf roping events), and ranch work in general (working for several "outfits" in the area).

After graduating from Sheridan High School in 1945, Gene proudly served his country for two years in the U.S. Army. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant and returned to Sheridan, where he later met Mary Lou Welch. They were married on July 5, 1952, and would remain devoted to one another over the next 59 years. They had one child, a son, Randy. In 1954, after some gentle "prodding" from Mary Lou, Gene reluctantly set aside cowboying and embarked on a successful career with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, working 32 years raising fish to plant in Wyoming's waters.

He was artistically talented, especially at drawing and leatherworking. In his spare time, he hand-tooled and stamped, in the Don King style, many a belt and buckle for his fellow Department employees. Gene retired as Superintendent of the Tillett Springs Fish Hatchery, near Lovell WY, and returned once again to Sheridan, where he purchased a home with several acres on Dutch Creek.

He felt very fortunate for the 25 years that he and Mary Lou were able to spend their time together. Gene was a life member of Sheridan Elks Lodge #520 for 63 years. He loved Wyoming for the hunting, fishing, and Wild West aura that it afforded him and yet found pleasure in spending an entire day on a golf course. He retained and shared fond memories of a number of family outings, in particular a trip in 2002 to Calgary, Canada, to attend the Calgary Stampede, where 50 years earlier he and Mary Lou had spent their honeymoon. Gene remained a true cowboy at heart, and it was in that manner that he lived his life. He will truly be missed and will be loved and remembered forever.

Preceding him in death were his mother, his father, and his stepfather J. Cleo Moreland.

Gene is survived by his wife Mary Lou; son Randy and fiancée Jenny of Dayton WY; sister Nadine Glass of Boulder City NV; nieces DeDe Patz of Sheridan and Mickey (Bill) Foss of Ponder TX; and nephew Willy Badget of Boulder City NV.

Find a Grave site - 2011.