Bill Strickland

Bill Wayne Strickland, 78, of Casa Grande died at home, with his family by his side, on Dec. 28, 2014, after a brief battle with acute leukemia.

Mr. Strickland was born on May 12, 1936, in Florence. He lived in Coolidge on the family farm for 18 years. After graduating from Coolidge High School, he went to California Polytechnic State University, Pomona and worked on the Cal Poly farms before coming back home to Coolidge. In school, he was active in FFA and held several executive offices. He wanted to play for the high school basketball team but was told the team was full, so he formed his own team through FFA. He was tenacious in everything he did. He acted in one school play due to the coercion of a teacher. Later, he admitted he actually enjoyed it.

During high school, he worked measuring cotton, using an old stagecoach and horses to cross the San Pedro River. After he returned from college, he worked for his old agriculture teacher at Ag Chem Co. for 11 years. Then he worked for Pure Gro and started growing cotton in 1975. By 1980, he was farming full time on 3,000 acres.

He had a full life doing what he enjoyed most: driving jalopy cars, hunting, trapshooting, bowling, golfing, farming and spending time with his family. He was an avid hunter of deer and elk and also quail and dove. He had a passion for barbecuing, and his keen sense of humor was seen as he had a special branding iron made to brand his steaks with his initials, BS. He was president of the Arizona State Trapshooting Association, a member of the Arizona Cotton Growers board, Arizona Farm Bureau, Agribusiness Council of Arizona, Sunset Farmers board (vice president and president for five years), Central Arizona Irrigation and Drainage District board (four years) and appointed to the state Board of Pesticide Control by Gov. Bruce Babbitt, serving 1983-86.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Phyllis; nine children, Wendy Blakeman, Matt Strickland, Billy Strickland, Donna Nelson, Kelly Prettyman, Tim Prettyman, Tina Weight, Toni Cress-Kooi, and Konie Byrnes; 21 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

He was honored by a gathering of his family and friends on Nov. 29 at BeDillon’s Cactus Garden and expressed his gratitude for being able to say goodbye to his loved ones prior to the beginning of his eternal life with Jesus Christ.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice Charitable Fund of Central Arizona: www.azhospicefund.org.

J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel was in charge of arrangements.