Early on Monday, February 8, 2021 Floyd Dolan Finch swung his loop into the Remuda, lead out a fresh mount and saddled up for a new day's work. He has signed on with a new ranch and a new wagon boss. The range grass is knee high, the creeks are running and the winter calves are ready to brand. He rode out to meet the many friends who have gone before him to tend to the Lord's herds.

Dolan was born on June 12, 1944 to Floyd and Lena Goodgame Finch of Cee Vee, Texas. His early education was in a two room school house in Cee Vee and then High School in Paducah. From the day he was born, he knew he was meant to be a cowboy. He first signed his name in the payroll book of the Matador Land & Cattle Company when he was 10 years old. Years later, he learned he had been the youngest hand to draw wages from them. As a young man, he worked for many of the great West Texas ranches... the Swensons, the Triangles, the Sixes, the Pitchforks, the JA's, the WT Waggoner Estate and many smaller spreads throughout Texas and Oklahoma. If you needed a hand, he was your man.

In 1964, he signed into the United States Army. While in the service, he grew very fond of his pen-pal, a young Fraulein he had met at the Knights of Columbus dances in Punkin Center. When he transferred to Ft Sill, he asked for her hand and on September 3, 1966, he married Ms. Christina Eckelkamp at St Paul's Catholic Church. He was likely the first Sergeant to request emergency leave to milk his Father in Laws dairy cows. Following his discharge from the Army the next year, the couple moved back to the WT Waggoner Estate where their daughters Danelle and Jennifer were born. It was during his time at the D's, he completed his associates degree at Vernon College, winning a bet with his mother-in-law.

He rode colts and worked calves alongside his brother JDon and many cowboys who were his lifelong friends and partners in mischief. He never tired of sharing the stories of their exploits and misadventures. He loved entering and putting on Wild Cow Milkings, Double Muggings, Wild Mare Races and Pasture Ropings. Even a night of team roping with friends could turn wooly and become a greater story with every retelling. For many years, he volunteered to gather rogue cattle donated to the North Texas Rehab Center's annual livestock auction. He served as President (and other duties as assigned) of the Electra Riding Club. He was a card holder of the Cowboys Turtle Association and attended St Paul's Catholic Church for 52 years.

He spent many years working in the oil field as a pumper for Flusche Supply, but even then cowboying still called him. Wade Robinson noted, "Dolan was the only employee who would take his two week paid vacation to load up his bed roll and hire on to work calves for whoever needed a hand". Most men were looking to retirement, but he lent a hand to his friends driving tractors and watching over their herds.

When his health slowed him down, he looked forward to Sunday afternoon visits with his granddaughters and poker, dominoes and 42 with his grandsons. Many evenings were spent reliving the adventures of growing up in Cee Vee, the great horses he had ridden, the legends he had worked alongside and the hair raising adventures they shared.

Dolan was proceeded in death by his cherished wife Chris, his parents Floyd and Lena, his brother, JDon and his sister in law, Sherry Eckelkamp Ray. He will be sorely missed by his daughters, Danelle and Jennifer; son-in-law, Everett Ivey; his granddaughters Elizabeth Ivey and Jessica Ivey; grandsons, James Ivey and Theodore Ivey, all of Electra; Brother-in-Law, Joe Ray of Grapevine; Nieces, Jamie Blankenship of Euless, Rebecca Smith of Paducah and nephew, Kenneth Finch of Paducah.

Among the pallbearers are just a few of the next generation of young men, whom he was proud to watch grow up and become cowboys in their own right. Johnny Miller, JB Miller, Chris Miller, Scotty Freeland, Troy Camp, Trevor Lalk and Jay Flowers.

Due to the weather, Wednesday evening, February 10, 2021  at 5:30 pm, rosary and visitation has been cancelled.  The funeral service will be held Thursday morning, February 11, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at Aulds Funeral Home of Electra.  Interment will be at a later date.

While this obituary is a bit winded and long, the author has tried to tell Dolan's story the way he would have told it..... and no one ever told a better story than Dolan. As one of the McAllister boys once noted, "Everyone has a Dolan Story", the family would be pleased if you would share yours at www.auldsfuneralhome.com

Memorials may be made to Cowpoke City 4-H Club, St Paul's Altar Society, or the North Texas Rehab Center.