Aug. 18, 1980 – Aug. 28, 2011

NATCHEZ — Services for Russell Alan Eldridge II, 31, of Heber City, Utah, who died Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011, as the result of a motorcycle accident, will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ed Wright officiating.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Alan was born Aug. 18, 1980, in Houston, Texas, the son of Russell “Rusty” Alan Eldridge and Mary Ellen Wilkins Eldridge. He was a 1998 graduate of Southside High School in Southside, Ala., and a 2004 graduate of Troy University in Troy, Ala. He was employed by OK3Air in Heber City.

Having grown up in several states of the southern United States, Alan never met a stranger. His quick wit, charming personality and engaging smile made him a number of friends along the way, some who remained lifelong friends even over vast distances. Always ready for new adventures and challenges, Alan’s interests included snow sports, hiking, traveling and flying. He had vigorously pursued and achieved his pilot’s license and delighted in taking friends sightseeing over the mountains and canyons of Utah. While these hobbies amused and intrigued him, Alan’s personal passion and life-mission was animal care and safety and lending a helping hand to his fellow man.

Alan was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Ben and Margie Wilkins and a cousin, Matt Therrell.

Survivors include his parents of Natchez; his fiancée, Melissa Young of Heber City; one brother, Adam Eldridge and his sister-in-law, Dr. Stephanie Barnes, of Franklin, Tenn.; one sister, Mallory Eldridge; paternal grandparents, Herman and Joyce Eldridge; two aunts, Janis Holder and husband, Rodney, all of Natchez and Cathy Dumal of Gulfport; one uncle, Ricky Wilkins and wife, Donna, of Seminary; and a number of cousins.

Pallbearers will be Adam Eldridge, Devin Lawrence, J.J. Peek, Joey Geter, Michael Petty and Ryan Wingfield.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, c/o Linda Tiraman, 520 8th Ave., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or to his favorite local chapter at SPCA of Tennessee, P.O. Box 1014, Brentwood, TN 37024-1014. Additional information may be obtained by contacting 1-800-628-0028, spcatn.org/donate, or donate.aspca.org.

Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.