Talley, Patricia Ann

The Honorable Patricia Ann Talley, Arizona entrepreneur, rancher, beloved aunt and friend, passed away on October 2, 2017 at the age of 64 after an extended illness. Ms. Talley was born on January 11, 1953 to Arizona rocket pioneer, inventor and industrialist Franz G. Talley, and Mae Sue Rechsteiner Talley in New Haven, Connecticut. Her family soon moved to Phoenix, where she became a devoted daughter of Arizona. Pat attended Phoenix Country Day School, Judson School, Arizona State University, George Washington University and Whittier Law School. Pat was active in the growth of Arizona and a resource for political figures from both parties. A natural athlete, she helped found (and played in) the World Team Tennis League. She was active in many of her own real-estate and business projects. As part of the Talley Industries management team, she worked on the rebuilding of the Arizona Biltmore, the gifting of Squaw Peak to the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, the gifting of the historic Castle Hot Springs resort to Arizona State University, and the gifting of her family’s presidential Roald Amundsen Pullman car to Scottsdale’s McCormick Stillman Railroad Park. Pat was known by her wit, keen intellect, kindness and a generous spirit. She was a member of the Rotary Club of Scottsdale and lived by its motto -- service before self. Barely out of high school, she helped found Terros Health, a health-care organization that touched over 55,000 lives in 2015, and she became one of Arizona’s first woman EMTs. Pat was active in numerous charities and civic projects. When not overseeing her family’s ranch near Castle Hot Springs, her later activist efforts involved founding the Blue’s Angels dog therapy program, support for armed service members, and tree plantings in Scottsdale’s Rotary Park. Pat is predeceased by her parents, her husband John Robert Stonor, and a lifetime of dogs, most recently Blue Talley. She is survived by her nephew Michael Talley of Los Angeles, her brother, Steven Talley of Phoenix and Auckland, New Zealand, Trusty, her beloved Dachshund and a legion of friends. A service will be held on November 4th at her lifelong spiritual home, St. Barnabas on the Desert Episcopal Church in Paradise Valley at 10 a.m., with reception to follow. Her family requests contributions to the Arizona Humane Society in lieu of flowers. Arrangements entrusted to Messinger Indian School Mortuary.