TATUM, Richard Mark

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ September 9, 1998, p. 14 Richard Mark Tatum of Yuma, and a former resident of Wickenburg, died September 6 in Yuma. He was 80. Mr. Tatum was born December 31, 1917 in Cornville, Arizona and had lived in Arizona his entire life. Dick Tatum was raised near Prescott, in the Walnut Grove area, by Charlie Carter. As a 9 year old boy, Dick “tailed up” trains of horses and took them from Walnut Grove over the mountains into Prescott for the local cowboys to use in the July 4th Rodeo. He rode race horses for Doc Pardee and Charlie Carter before he was old enough to drive. He stayed in the occupation of a cowboy nearly all his life. As a cowboy, he worked on many of the bigger outfits in Northern Arizona and was a manager of several smaller ones. He raised his family in the culture and heritage of the American cowboy and passed on the pride of that lifestyle to all of his family. A great story-teller and humorist, Dick will be remembered for his vivacious personality and giving spirit. He and his wife Virginia would have been celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary on September 18. Survivors include his wife Virginia of Yuma; brother John of Ketchikan, Alaska; son Danny Tatum of Wickenburg; daughters Maxine Tatum of Prescott, Gwen Glattfelder of Ashfork, Dixie Custer of Wickenburg, and Jolanda Britain of Yuma; and 35 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Church of Latter-Day Saints in Wickenburg, with Rink Goswick officiating. Interment will be at the Wickenburg Municipal Cemetery. Brown’s funeral Home handled all the arrangements.