Florence Stacy

Florence Ann Stacy, 77, of York Valley, passed away on January 21, 2014 at home with her loving family by her side. She was born May 1, 1936 in El Paso, TX to Oscar and Mattie Bell Beauford. She was the youngest of five children. The family moved several times when she was young due to her fathers work. They finally moved to Greenlee County when her father obtained work at Phelps Dodge. As a teenager she attended Clifton High School. She met her cowboy, Jim Stacy, when she was waiting tables at the Coronado Inn in Clifton. The family moved to Pima for a time and their courtship continued. She had a bird that told her Jimmys coming as soon as he pulled up. Jim and Florence were married August 26, 1955 in Silver City, NM, at the LDS Church by the Bishop. The couple honeymooned in Denver, Colorado, and then home to the family Ranch. Florence didnt know how to cook so Jimmy and her brothers-in-law taught her all of their favorite dishes. Her first attempt was lemon meringue pie. She secretly continued to practice and laughingly told us they had the fattest dogs in Greenlee County. She enjoyed her life as a ranchers wife. They had a very happy life together. They were blessed with four children; Marion, Kathy, Thomas and Berl. Florence was many things; homemaker, ranchers wife & partner, PTA member, home room mother, election board member, Republican precinct chairperson, Greenlee County Cowbelles member of which she held several offices; secretary, vice president and president. She was also a member of the Arizona State Cowbelles of which she also held several offices. She and Jim lived in York Valley so their children could attend school and also ranched and lived on the lower Blue. They ranched until they finally sold their ranch in 2012. Florence always said she should write a book about being a ranchers wife and that when I die God is going to say Florence get out and open the gate. She is survived by her children; Marion (Tom) Tucker, Kathy (Coy) Norris, Thomas (Maria) Stacy, Berl Stacy, and many children of her heart, grandchildren; Jimmy (Maxcene) Hollestelle, Nicole Hollestelle, Amanda Pass and numerous other grandchildren of her heart, great grandchildren; Taylor, Tommy & Talon Hollestelle, Devin Tripp, Wyatt Tucker, Chase Crowe, and many other great grandchildren of her heart, and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces & great nephews. Florence is preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Jim Stacy, parents, Oscar and Mattie Bell Beauford, siblings; Hollis Mitchell, Mabel Westmoreland, Elizabeth Johnson and Ray Beauford. Services for Florence will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at the Coronado Train Depot in Clifton, AZ, with Bishop Will Wearne officiating.