Gale Emmett Price

Gale Emmett Price, 75, a resident of Mesa, Arizona, passed away on June 17, 2016 at his home. He is survived by his wife Patty; son, Mark and Lynn (wife) Price, ; daughters, Shannon and Kelly Price; step children David and Jennifer Garwood; grandchildren Kayla (25), Zachery (24), Courtney (21), Bryce (19), Callie Jean (11), , Sienna (9), and Tyler (3).

Gale was born on April 25, 1941, the younger of 2 children to Emmett Love and Alfa (Sullivan) Price in Oklahoma City, and was raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He moved to the Los Angeles, California area as a young teen and then moved to Prescott, Arizona, where he spent his senior year at Prescott High School in 1959. He enlisted in the Navy from 1960-64, serving on the USS Rainier, as the Captain’s Boatswain’s mate, a duty that he loved. He married Kathleen A. Farley in 1963 while still serving in the Navy. They lived in Phoenix and Flagstaff, AZ until her passing in 1985. While in Flagstaff, he met Patricia “Patty” A. Richard. Although they first met when she was the family dental hygienist, they began dating through mutual friends in late 1985, finally marrying in 1992.

After the Navy, Gale worked for Construction and Mining Supply as a parts salesman, and then enjoyed a 30 year career with Empire Machinery as a parts and service salesman, ending his career as an Account Manager, selling Caterpillar Equipment. One of his proudest achievements with Empire was reaching $10 million dollars in annual sales. He retired from Empire Machinery in 2004.

Gale was proud to have been a sober member of AA for 34 years. He loved camping and rifle and archery hunting, a passion that he passed on to his son, Mark. While living in Chino Valley, AZ he bought his first Harley, traveling the western US with Patty on the back. Some of his favorite trips include a 2 week ride to Glacier National Park with Patty, riding to Sturgis, and joining the Ride to the Wall with his dear friend, JC White, riding from California to Washington, DC in honor of our veterans. He also enjoyed golfing, especially after his retirement, and near the end, he became an avid reader, thanks to his good friend and neighbor, Van Chisholm.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, June 22 at 4 pm at Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park, 6747 E Broadway, Mesa, AZ 85206.

Remembrances may be made to Hospice of the Valley, and AA.