Arlie M Gordon II

Arlie M. Gordon II, also known by the old Castle Rock, Colorado crowd as “Little Arlie,” was born on September 12, 1952, and went home to the Lord on August 14, 2026. At well over 6-feet tall, not including his signature black felt hat, he was quite the opposite of “little” both in stature and in the big life he lived. Arlie believed in service, agriculture, the Castle Rock community, and in family. These things are evident in his legacy, marking a life well lived.

Arlie lived on a portion of the ranch his grandfather homesteaded, and the purebred Black Angus cattle herd under his care was built from a single heifer, a Christmas gift from his father. The cowherd was a consistent part of his life, anchoring him and helping him raise his four daughters, lovingly nicknamed “The Gordon Girls,” with a love of the land, the ranching business, and the life of a cowboy.

His parents, Arlie Louis and Marie S. (Frenchie) Gordon, worked together on a milk route and eventually founded A&M Excavating. Arlie learned young how to work hard to day’s end and expertly run heavy equipment. That led him to Colorado State University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Construction Management. He returned to Castle Rock and worked in the family business beginning in the 1970s, ultimately starting Castle Rock Contractors, Inc., which he successfully ran for nearly 50 years, building on strong foundations from the ground up.

His lifelong love of rodeo began when he rode steers in Little Britches rodeos and earned a scholarship to Northeastern Junior College (NJC), where he competed on the NJC Rodeo Team in all of the roughstock events. He continued competing while at CSU. His love for rodeo passed down to his girls and Rowan and Romany were crowned as D.C. Fair Queens and still barrel race competitively to this day. He loved rodeo and all that it stood for, a passion that eventually led him to start Eagle Rock Bucking Bulls after retiring from his long career with Castle Rock Contractors, Inc.

Arlie was not only committed to rodeo, but was a true believer in the 4-H Youth Program and all that it offered to kids. Arlie’s involvement in Douglas County 4-H began with his gifted heifer and developed into his own successful show career and three decades on the D.C. Fair Board. Arlie was a longtime 4-H club leader and believed so firmly in the value of the program and exhibiting livestock, he often provided a place for kids to house their livestock projects so they, too, could benefit from the experience and capitalize on his hard-won knowledge and expertise.

Arlie’s impact on his four daughters, RaeMarie, Rowan, Romany, and Rainey, remains unmistakable. He was a fixture at county fairs and 4-H events, shepherding the girls through their beef, lamb, pig, and horse projects. Always playing a strong supportive role for his daughters, it was at his side they learned to win, to lose, and to be careful stewards of livestock and people alike. Arlie attended the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo for over 65 years and never encountered a stranger.

He was a cowboy in every sense of the word – one who lived by the Cowboy Code and believed that kindness, loyalty, and a helping hand were worth more than anything money could buy. He never met a stranger; everyone he encountered was simply a friend he hadn’t met yet. To him, a handshake was a promise, and a man’s word was his bond.

Arlie leaves behind a legacy of friendship, kindness, laughter, and a life lived true to his word. He was one of those rare men who could ride into a room a stranger and ride out with a friend.

Arlie is survived by daughters RaeMarie (Tad) Gordon-Knowles of Kiowa, Colorado; Rowan Gordon of Hershey, Nebraska; Romany (Justin) McEnturff of Kaufman, Texas; his granddaughter, Ellery Rain McEnturff of Kaufman, Texas; as well as Cam (Jenna, Kash, Tate, and Katie Mae) Weiand of Parker, Colorado; and an immeasurable number of friends who were family to him.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Rainey Arlie Gordon.

Welcome to Heaven, Cowboy. Your entry fees are paid.

Services will be at the Douglas County Fairgrounds Indoor Arena on September 27, 2026 at 1p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions to the Arlie Gordon Memorial in care of the D.C. Fair Foundation, P.O. Box 1557, Castle Rock, Colo., 80104.