MABERY, Richard LaVern (Uncle Dick)

The Verde Independent, Cottonwood, Arizona, Saturday, March 09, 2013 Richard LaVern Mabery of Cottonwood, passed away February 22. Born December 7, 1932, “Uncle Dick” was a long time airplane pilot and mechanic. His love of all things mechanical, especially things that fly, started in Yuma when he rebuilt wrecked planes in his parent’s garage in Yuma after he tried to jump off a haystack with turkey wings strapped to him. His free spirit led him from Arizona to California to Alaska and eventually back to Arizona to be nearer his family in Cottonwood. He was a certified mechanic for America West, part owner of an air service and repair business in Alaska, mechanic with Blue Sky Aviation in Cottonwood, a sky diver and worked with a design team in the aerospace industry in California that developed lunar landing craft and rockets for moon exploration. In the last few years he worked at the Blazin M Ranch maintaining the many intricacies of their Wooden West Gallery. His gentle soul, enduring inquisitiveness and independent nature will be sorely missed by all. He was preceded in death by his adoptive parents, Lloyd and Verna Mabery, his brother Charles Mabery and Clarence and Emma West, his birth parents. He is survived by nephews Kevin Ergman, Tim (Glenda) Mabery, Rick (SueAnn) Mabery, Dan (Lori) Mabery, and niece Vikki (Rich) Church and their families. Private services are pending. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com. Information provided by survivors.