Dean Weatherly

Dean Weatherly, 72, of Phoenix and formerly a Pinal County supervisor and Casa Grande businessman, died on Jan. 3, 2012, at Hospice of the Valley Ryan House in Phoenix.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel, with David Fitzgibbons officiating. Burial will be in Mountain View Cemetery.
Mr. Weatherly was born to Virgil and Harvey Lee Weatherly on Dec. 19, 1939, in Carey, Texas, a small farming town in the southeast corner of the Panhandle. While in high school he began working part time at the local radio station, eager to learn the business. After graduation he spent 25 years in hometown broadcasting, owning and operating radio stations in Texas and Arizona. His last station was KPIN in Casa Grande, which he owned for 11 years.
He also had a passion for politics and public service. At 22 he was elected mayor of Morton, Texas, making him then the youngest mayor in the history of the state. From 1985 to 1992 he served two terms on the Pinal Board of Supervisors. He was especially proud of leading the effort to develop Maricopa Road into a four-lane State Route 347. He also was recognized as a leader on water issues and was a co-founder of Pinal County Town Hall.
From 1993 to 2005 he was director of economic development for the Gila River Indian Community. He had a respect for the community and its traditions and worked hard to build gaming, hospitality and other enterprises for the Gila River people. After retiring in 2005 he enjoyed spending time in Yarnell. He served on the local water board, was instrumental in securing federal funds for improvements and, for five years, delivered meals and friendly chatter to homebound people.
Survivors include his wife, Trish Georgeff; a son, Kevin Weatherly of Calabasas, Calif.; a brother, Bob Weatherly of Ponca City, Okla.; and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two daughters, Kim Benedict and Kandra Petersen, and a son, Kris Weatherly.