Kenneth Claude Stanfill |
| Posted 2009-10-07 by Sharla |
| The Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, Arizona Sunday, September 27, 2009 Kenneth Claude Stanfill, 92, died peacefully at home on Sept. 24, 2009. He was born in Globe in 1917, the last of five children. He played drums in the city band, worked as a carpenter's helper, cut meat at the grocery store and delivered papers to help his family during the Depression. After graduating from Globe High School, he moved to Flagstaff to attend Northern Arizona Teacher's College, now NAU. It was there that he met Vivian Reid. After she graduated and taught school for a year, she and Kenneth were married. They moved to help Vivian's parents, Earl and Rena Reid, build Gray Mountain Trading Post. It began small, with a store, a single gas pump, a small kitchen and a counter that served 15. All the meals were made from scratch. In the '50s after drilling for water, they were able to expand. They built a motel, dining room, bar, curio, shop, laundry, full service station and dessert freeze. The family owned and operated Gray Mountain for 40 years, selling it in 1978. Mr. Stanfill loved trading with the Navajos, and over the years, deep and respectful friendships were formed. Mr. Stanfill was a 50-year member of the Flagstaff Elk's Lodge. He was a Boy Scout leader in Flagstaff in the '50s. He enjoyed his membership in the B.O.Y.S Club of Sedona and he was a longtime member of the Arizona Club in Phoenix. He is survived by his daughter, Sharon Chapman, of Sedona; a granddaughter and grandson; three great-granddaughters; a great-great-grandson; and longtime loving friend Lillian Simpson of Sedona and the entire Simpson family. He was preceded in death by his wives, Vivian and Millie, and a grandson. A funeral service will be Oct. 3 at 11 a.m. at Village Park Baptist Church in the Village of Oak Creek, 55 Canyon Diablo Road. Interment will be at Phoenix Memorial Park in Phoenix. Memorial contributions can be made to a charity of your choice or Compassus Hospice of Sedona. Online condolences can be left at www.hansenmortuary.com. Hansen Mortuary of Phoenix is handling arrangements. See Also: Find A Grave |
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