Colleen Eldredge

Colleen was born on Tuesday, 7 March 1933 in Key West, FL, the daughter of Thomas C. and Lauretta (Mayg) Moore. She died of heart failure on 15 September 2023.  She was a fifth generation “Conch”, the name by which native Key Westers are known.  Her entire elementary and secondary schooling was in Key West, FL. In college she was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha social sorority, and the “Marching Chiefs” band at Florida State University, graduating in 1954 with a BS degree in Social Work. 

Ten months after graduation, in 1955 she married her husband of 68 years, Lieutenant Robert Parker Eldredge, of Oceanside, NY, a pilot in the United States Air Force.  After separation from the Air Force in 1957 the Eldredge family moved to the Orlando area and have since resided there.  With five children Colleen was basically a stay-at-home mom until her children were a little older, and then she spent many years as a substitute teacher in the Orange County School system.  This employment was the best of all worlds for her: she loved teaching; her days of work were flexible, and she could still be at home when needed. With work flexibility she was able to take time off to travel the world with her husband Bob on his business trips. Even after retirement Bob and Colleen continued to travel the world, and also enjoyed their second home on the water in the tiny village of Bokeelia, on the west coast of Florida; a place so much like the Key West of her childhood.  In Bokeelia happy and fun days were spent with their children and grandchildren, boating, fishing, shelling, and enjoying the quiet and beauty of the area. Colleen loved to write, and in her spare time she published two books: Colleen’s Family Cookbook, three editions, and The Ancestry and Memories of Carolyn Colleen Moore Eldredge.

She is survived by her husband Bob Eldredge, four sons: Steven P. (Kristi); Scott D.; Thomas R. (Karen), and James K. (Tanya) Eldredge; sister-in-law Wendy Moore and several nieces and nephews. Colleen was also the loving grandmother to 15 wonderful grandchildren: Parker, Kyle Kirby, Austin, Luke, Nick, Emily, Adam, Jimmy, Spencer, and Alyssa Eldredge; Mandy Cravey; Katie Duba; Yvonne Burke; and Alec Lemieux. and 15 precious great grands: Noelle, Brooks, Tripp, Vivian Rose, Layla, and Owen Eldredge; and Mckinley, Marek, Archer, and Owen Cravey; Cameron and Carter Lombardo; Elle Mulkey; and Hannah and Ava Jones.

 She was predeceased by her parents; daughter Lynn Colleen Eldredge; and brother, Thomas Moore.

Memorial services for Colleen will be held at 11 AM, Saturday, October 7, 2023 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 1515 S. Semoran Blvd., Orlando, Florida 32807.