James R. McElhaney |
| Posted 2009-08-06 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Saturday, August 01, 2009 James R. McElhaney, 82, passed away peacefully on July 30, 2009, in Chino Valley, Ariz. Jim was the youngest of six children born to Randolph H. and Janet McElhaney on Feb. 17, 1927, in Yuma, Ariz. Except for his military service and four years of college, he spent his life living and working on the farm his family homesteaded in the Wellton-Mohawk Valley. J Jim served his country during World War II in the United States Army Air Force. Upon discharge, he enrolled in the University of Arizona in Tucson and then completed his bachelor's degree in agriculture at UC Davis in California. Jim loved to fly and was a member of the Civil Air Patrol and Flying Farmers in the 1960s and '70s. Jim served on numerous boards and committees during his lifetime, including many years of service on the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation District Board, the Soil Conservation Board, Antelope Union High School Board, and was a member of the Arizona Farm Bureau and a member and Deacon of the Wellton Community Presbyterian Church. Jim married Betty Lou Bilbery on Sept. 5, 1951. Together they raised three children, Randolph, Linda and Michael. Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Randolph and Janet; brothers Frank and Robert (Bob) McElhancy; sisters Elizabeth Hughs and Mildred Snyder; and niece Judith Bump. He is survived by his wife, Betty Lou of Chino Valley, Ariz.; children Randolph McElhaney of Wellton, Ariz., Michael McElhaney of Portland, Maine, and Linda (Greg) Patterson of Chino Valley, Ariz.; his sister Marylin Maines of Wellton, Ariz.; and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews. A celebration of Jim's life will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, at the Grace Baptist Church, Highway 89 and Outer Loop Road in Chino Valley. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Alzheimer's Association or Hospice Family Care, 100 E. Sheldon St., Suite 100, Prescott, Arizona, 86301. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Chino Valley Funeral Home. Information provided by survivors. |
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