Ken Maynard Pavey |
| Posted 2026-01-29 by mhenderson |
| Published by The Miner on Jan. 26, 2026 - Kingman, Arizona - Ken Maynard Pavey Our dad, Ken, passed away peacefully on Jan. 23, 2026, at Prescott Veterans Hospital in Arizona. He was 87 years old. He was our steady place and our biggest supporter. Loving deeply, caring quietly, and always showing up in the ways that mattered most. Our hearts are broken, but they are also full of gratitude for the life and love we shared with him. Ken was born on Oct. 12, 1938, in Concho, Arizona, to Juanita Irene and George Pavey. At just 17 years old, he joined the United States Army (after he convinced his mom to sign papers to join early) and proudly served from 1955 to 1958. During his service in the Korean War era, he was a firefighter, carrying that sense of duty and grit with him throughout his life. Ken lived a life shaped by independence, hard work, and wide-open spaces. Managing the Willaha Ranch near Tusayan for years, just outside the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, where his connection to the land ran deep. A true horseman and dedicated cattleman, no one else had his way of talking to horses and cattle, he didn’t just work the ranch, he lived it. Being a true caretaker of all animals, while moving cattle throughout the ranch, mending a stubborn line of barbed wire or all countless repairs to keep everything running, he believed that a man’s word was his bond, and a handshake was a legal contract. Dad, along with Mom, instilled in us a continuing lifelong compassion for animals, leading by example and always putting their care first. Later in life, Ken took that same work ethic to the open road as a long- haul car hauler and proud Teamster. After logging countless miles across the country, he could tell you how to get just about anywhere. He didn’t rely on GPS—he was GPS. Our own road atlas long before smartphones ever existed. He knew every interstate, connection, and bridge height when planning a trip. Ken loved reading westerns, watching rodeos, spending time with his family, his beloved cat Mooney, and never forgot his favorite horse, Keno. Ken was fortunate to live and work in many states throughout his life, including Oregon, Washington, Montana, Colorado, and Idaho. He settled in Sparks (Reno), Nevada in 1987, where he lived for many years alongside Heather, before relocating next to family in Camp Verde, Arizona, in 2022. There, he spent his final years on countless adventures and art projects with his great-grandchildren, Brayden and Peyton. In 1966, Ken married Pamela Jackson. Though they later divorced, together they raised two daughters, Risë Pavey (Heather Risk) and Heather Pavey (Rudy Keading). He was a proud grandfather to Taylor Hammond (Ashley) and a loving great-grandfather to Brayden Hammond and Peyton Hammond. He was preceded in death by his grandson Trevor Hammond and Trevor’s finance Heather Jo Travis, whom he missed dearly. Ken was also preceded in death by his parents, Juanita Irene and George Pavey and six brothers and sisters. He is survived by many loving family members, including nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, who will cherish his memory and the stories he shared. He lived life on his own terms, independent, steady, and true, and leaves behind a legacy of service, hard work, and quiet, unwavering love. Celebration of life will be held at a later date. |
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