Mark Clinton Wilhite

Born in Boles, Arkansas, in 1938 to Mark and Alice Wilhite, he was the fourth of five children.

After his mother passed, Clint and his father moved to Arizona, where Clint spent much of his life farming the land around Eloy. He believed that a man was defined by his actions, his word, and how he cared for the people around him. For decades, he got up before dawn, worked long hours, and gave everything he had to provide for his family. He never complained about the hard work or the sacrifices that came with it. He simply went to work each day and did what needed to be done.

On January 7, 1956, Clint married Annie Helen Southerland. Together, they raised three children, Ronnie Wilhite (Rosie) of Eloy, Jerry Wilhite (Colleen) of Casa Grande, and Terrie Price (Eugene) of Casa Grande.

For more than 70 years, Clint and Annie shared a life in Eloy. Some of his favorite times were the simple ones, sitting around the dinner table with family, fishing, or spending time together in Northern Arizona. He especially enjoyed time with his children, his six grandchildren, Todd, P.J., Chad, Chase, Clint, and Nikki, and his 19 great-grandchildren.

After retiring from farming, Clint went to work at Palm Creek RV Resort & Golf Course, where he spent the next 20 years. He often said the work reminded him of farming. Instead of growing crops and harvesting them, he was growing grass and mowing it. He loved the management, the ladies in the office, and his co-workers, many of whom became friends. Even during his final days, he spoke fondly of his time at Palm Creek and the people he had come to know there.

Clint was proud of being a man people could count on. If he gave his word, you could trust it. If someone needed help, he was there. While he took great pride in his work, nothing meant more to him than his family.

Clint did not need to tell people how to live a good life. He showed them. He taught his family the importance of faith, hard work, keeping your promises, and caring for the people you love.

His family will carry those lessons with them and remember him not only for all he accomplished, but for the man he was. His love, his example, and the values he lived by will continue through the generations he leaves behind.