Gaylord “Doc” Huddleson

Butte resident Gaylord “Doc” Huddleson, 83, passed away Jan. 13, 2008. He was born Dec. 21, 1924 in Beatrice, Neb., to Ernest and Ethel Huddleson.

Huddleson was a member of the Butte Volunteer Fire Department for 20 years and a Butte Ambulance Service driver volunteer for 10 years. He was also in the 5th Airborne, 385th Fighter Group and served in World War II.

He was a cowboy in his earlier years and played several roles in re-enactments at Tombstone, Ariz. He was an extra/double in several movies. He was also a jockey.

He enjoyed Tae Kwon Do, dancing, camping, fishing and playing dominoes. He loved traveling and had been to all 50 states.

During his lifetime, he owned many auto body shops in Arizona, Oregon, Washington, California and Alaska. His number one hobby was building his own vehicles. If anyone wanted to know how-to, they went and saw Doc, his family said.

Huddleson is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Leona of Butte. Huddleson is also survived by his daughters and sons-in-law Diana and Jim West and Kathy and Randy Salas, all of California; and son and daughter-in-law Dan and Patty Huddleson of Alaska.

No services are planned at this time. A celebration of life will be held in May.