Lannes James Brock

After a brief fight against cancer, Lannes J. Brock passed away at home on August 22, 2021. He was a Yuma native born to Aurb and Eva Brock on March 10, 1937. He attended Yuma elementary schools and graduated as a proud Criminal from Yuma Union High School in 1956. After attending Arizona State College (now NAU) and the University of Arizona, he returned to Yuma where he married Mary Baker in 1959. He was a produce packer and commercial beekeeper while he and Mary raised their four daughters.

In 1983 Lannes sold his bee business and started a new career as the owner/manager of the Sportsmen’s Market on Highway 95. He added the Sportsmen’s Boat Storage facility adjacent to the store soon after. After selling the market, he opened the Sportsmen’s Hide-a-Way tackle shop inside the boat storage property, fulfilling his dream of having the best tackle store in southwest Arizona. After his retirement twenty years later, he and Mary enjoyed spending winters in Yuma and summers at their cabin, first in Idaho and most recently in Happy Jack, Arizona. In both places, he spent hours growing vegetables and tomatoes in his gardens.

For his entire life, Lannes enjoyed hunting and fishing. He hunted game in all parts of the state and was an avid tournament fisherman. Known as “Mr. Senko” (his go-to lure) to his fishing buddies, he was a member of the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club, Yuma Bassmasters, Desert Bass, ABA, Midweek Bass Anglers and other outdoor groups. He always entered tournaments to win, always expecting that the next cast would net the “big one”. He loved sharing his knowledge of fishing on the Lower Colorado River with several generations of fishermen; his fishing stories brought smiles to many, groans to a few.

Lannes Brock is survived by his wife, Mary, to whom he was married for over 60 years and by his four daughters: Jennifer Ferguson (James), Diana Brock-Gray, Patricia Holdman (John), and Laura Fox (David). There are eight grandsons: Dan Crombie, Jason Laybourn, James Gray (Sarah), Chad Gray (Natalia), Sean Gray, Josh and Ryan Holdman, Jacob Fox and two granddaughters: Sarah and Katie Fox, and five great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, Aurb and Eva Brock; his grandson, Nick Crombie; and his son-in-law, Bryan Gray.

No immediate services will be held. A celebration of his life for family and friends is being planned for October.

The family wishes to thank YRMC Cancer Center doctors and nurses; Hospice of Yuma nurses and aides, and the many friends who cared for Lanny and his family the past few months. If one wishes to send a memorial gift, please consider the Arizona Game and Fish Bass Stocking Program (c/o Midweek Bass Anglers; 3950 E. Tonto Place; Chandler, AZ 85249), the American Cancer Society, or Hospice of Yuma.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared below for the Brock family.