James Clark 'Jim' Dorrance, age 54, passed away July 21, 2014, at his home in Custer, SD.

Jim was born in East Los Angeles, CA, on March 20, 1960. He went to twelve different schools until he graduated from Byers High School in Byers, CO. Jim worked on ranches in Steamboat Springs, CO; Aurora, CO; and Billings, MT as well as cattle feedlots north of Byers and Fort Morgan, CO, where he married Joy Gaye Guyer from Lafayette, CO, and they had a son, Justin Harley Dorrance.

Jim was an artist and he also worked with Eddie Roth of Byers giving cattle haircuts. He also worked in Deadwood, SD, peddling ice cream, driving sno-cats at Hardy Camp at O'Neill Pass. Jim worked on the Mickelson Trail and leaned on a shovel for a few years for the City of Custer. He also worked at the True Value store in Custer and was a manager at the Leroy Hotel in Custer.

Jim didn't like being like everyone else in anything as was evidenced by his 1957 Studebaker pickup and matching camper, which was his main vehicle from 1988 until present. He also rode a Russian motorcycle with sidecar, mostly in the winter. Everything Jim did was done with his son in mind-PSST.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Jim is survived by his son, Justin (Faye) Dorrance of Custer; mother, Mary Jo McCarthy of Custer; brother, Will Mitchell of Deadwood; half-brother, Troy; half-sister, Tami; grandchildren, Avari, Colton and Tate; nieces, Jessica and Katy and nephew, Vance.

Jim was preceded in death by his former wife, Joy Gaye Guyer; father, Ronald Shane Dorrance; sister, Deborah Ann Todd and adopted father, Ernest Baker Mitchell.