Cowley Pioneer Day | ElRay and Ann Bridges honored as Pioneer Day parade marshals

(Reprinted from the Cowley Pioneer Day Book.)We were both raised in the southwest corner of the Salt Lake Valley but in adjoining communities and met while attending Riverton Junior High. During our years at Jordan High School in Sandy, Utah, we were high school sweethearts and members of the graduating class of 1957. Our life together began when we were married that same year in the Salt Lake Temple.In 1973, we moved to Frannie, where we bought a home and a small ranch. We all worked hard with farming, taking care of livestock and everything else that goes along with this lifestyle.[caption id="attachment_11483" align="alignright" width="285"] ElRay and Ann Bridges will ride in the Cowley Pioneer Day Parade as the 2016 Grand Marshals.
courtesy photo[/caption]We found ourselves in a unique situation as the family lived in Frannie, the older kids went to school in Deaver and the family went to church in Cowley, along with ElRay working for Welch Construction, American Colloid, Robertson Motors, Nicholls and Lewis Construction and as school bus driver. This gave us the opportunity to meet and become friends with many people in the area.After selling the farm, ElRay worked at the UW Research Center in Powell until he retired.I was a “stay at home Mom” until 1979, when I started working in the schools, first at Frannie, then Cowley, Byron and Deaver Middle School as an aide. I also attended Northwest College. I concluded my work experience with Big Horn County School District #1 in the Special Services office as secretary.We joined the Cowley Riding Club and were involved in putting on the rodeo for Pioneer Day, and ElRay rode in the parade with the club. He was Pioneer Day Committee vice chairman in 1978 and chairman in 1979. He was responsible for the horseshoe pitching contest in the park for 20 years. When the schools were consolidated, ElRay was on the school board and served for two terms.I soon learned the art of puckering satin to decorate floats for the parade every year. I also assisted with the music for the program, as well as being involved with planning, preparing and serving the noon-day lunch for several years.ElRay’s interests are mostly in the outdoors, particularly being in the mountains either camping or hunting. For years he pitched horseshoes with the Powell club and was a participant in the World Tournament in Gillette. In later years, he has raised exotic pheasants.After retirement I gave piano lessons for several years. I also enjoy oil painting, family history, sewing, reading and baking goodies for my family.We moved to Cowley in 1998 and have enjoyed our years in this great community. Here we have our family close around us with four of our children living in Cowley: Sherie and Dave Monk, Willie and Jody Bridges, DeAnna and Mike Calvin and LaRae and Kurt Dobbs (as well as some of our grandchildren and their families) and the fifth one, Joe Bridges and family, in Powell.We have often said, “This is home; this is where we are supposed to be.”