Eldon Dudley

Eldon Dudley, 96, of Canyon, passed away on Monday, March 30, 2026. Memorial services will be at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, April 6, 2026 at Brooks Chapel with Rev. Matt Wolfington, pastor of First Methodist Church of Canyon, officiating.

Eldon was born in Apache, Oklahoma on September 11, 1929 to Harvey and Maudie Mae (Moore) Dudley. While growing up in Apache, his love for roping began, and he started roping calves in 1943. After graduating high school in 1948, he went on to Oklahoma A&M University where he won the first College National Championship in 1949 at Cow Palace (San Francisco, CA). In 1952, Eldon graduated from Oklahoma A&M University, and from there his roping career took off. He went to Madison Square Garden in New York to compete in calf roping with numerous world champions.

Eldon drafted into the army on November 19, 1952. Basic training took him to California, then he moved to Fort Reno, in Oklahoma. He married Janet Ranson, a barrel racer from Perryton, Texas in 1953, and they were blessed with two children, their daughter, Sydna and son, Kyle. After leaving the army in 1954, they moved to Perryton, Texas where Eldon spent his time ranching, farming, and rodeoing. In 1970, Eldon established a commercial cattle feedyard in Perryton that he owned and operated for the next 20 years.

Eldon joined the PRCA in 1957, and in 1960, he won the calf roping in the Los Angeles Coliseum. Eldon won All-Around Champion at Pendleton, Oregon in 1972, and in 1975, he won the All-Around Champion and steer roping at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Eldon also won the Texas Circuit PRCA Steer Roping in 1977, and in the 1990’s he won the Super Senior Steer Roping four times.

Eldon served on the board of directors at Perryton National Bank, Texas Cattle Feeders Association, as well as Interstate Bank. After moving to Canyon, he became a member of Hillside Christian church and loved his church family.

Eldon is preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Peggy Dudley Moran, and his wife, Janet Dudley.

Survivors include his children, son, J Kyle Dudley and wife, Kimberly and daughter, Sydna Schweifler; three beautiful granddaughters who were his pride and joy, Kelsee Dudley Perkins and husband, Will, Kross Dudley Blackwell and husband, Caleb, and Dylan Stout Hurt and husband, Taylor; and one shining great-grandson, Banks Dean Hurt.