HANKS, SR., Edward Lee (Ed)

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Tuesday, July 02, 2013 Edward Lee Hanks Sr. passed from this Earth in the early morning hours of Thursday, June 27, 2013. He was 66 years old. Ed was born on Aug. 2, 1946, in Denver, Colo. He grew up on a ranch near Fort Lupton, Colo., with his parents, Joy Lee and Ruby Smith Hanks, and graduated from Boulder High School. He went on to earn an associate's degree in agribusiness from Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo., and lived for awhile south of San Antonio selling chemical fertilizer to farmers. He was a Jaycee Officer in Estes Park, Colorado, and operated the National Park Village Livery Stables just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park. In the 1970s, Ed moved permanently to Arizona, where he owned and operated the livery stables at Carefree Inn and then later at the Pointe Resort on 16th Street, providing people the opportunity to explore the local desert parks on horseback. He provided horses to various Boy Scout Girl Scout camps in the four-corner states; local riding clubs like the Camelback Riding Club, the Scottsdale Charros, the Verde Vaqueros and the Hashknife Pony Express, just to name a few; and was involved in the development of WestWorld in Scottsdale. He continued his passion for cattle and horses up until his death, operating/owning the Triangle M Ranch in Mayer, Ariz., enjoying the lifestyle that few are able to live. He is survived by his wife, Sandy Hanks; his daughter and her children of Glendale, Ariz., Joy Hanks, Brianna, Emileigh, Maggie and Ryan; his oldest son and his family of Humboldt, Ariz., Ed Hanks Jr., Cathy, Mckennon and Katie; and his youngest son and his wife of Pensacola, Fla., Justin and Ashley Hanks. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, July 5, 2013, at the Mayer Recreation Center, 10001 South Wicks Ave. in Mayer, Ariz., with a small potluck reception following the services. A memorial to celebrate Ed's life will take place later in the summer. Sunrise Mortuary of Prescott Valley took care of the arrangements for Ed. Information provided by survivors.