George William Casner

George William Casner, age 77, of Phoenix, AZ died November 18, 2019. He was born in Cottonwood Arizona in 1942 and raised in Payson, Arizona by his mother Georgia Belle Wilbanks Farragh and step-father Robert Farragh. He graduated from Payson High School in 1960. He liked to tell everyone he met that he graduated 5th in his class!! And then mention there were only 6 in his senior class! After graduating junior college at Eastern Arizona Community College he went on to obtain his Bachelor (1968) and Master of Science (1970) degrees in math and organic chemistry at Northern Arizona University.

He began his teaching career with the Washington Elementary School District in 1968, first at Cholla Middle School for 2 years then moving on to Desert Foothills Middle School for the remainder of his 40 year career as a science teacher. He was a highly respected 8th grade science teacher and was often recognized by former students when he was out and about.

George loved the outdoors and loved to be active. He played tennis for years at the Mountain View Tennis Center and then began riding road bicycles in his 40’s. He would ride every weekend, usually up to 60 miles and on several occasions George was the USCF (United States Cycling Federation) Arizona age-group cycling champion. Multiple accidents and broken bones didn’t slow him down and he even began riding mountain bikes. Finally convinced to slow down the bike riding, he began long daily walks with his dog Nikki instead.

George is survived by his daughter Carrie Lynne Darling, grandson Jace Anthony Clark, granddaughters Cheryl Ann Casner and Robin Catherine Casner, great-granddaughter Ofelia Marie Casner and sister Melba Jane Holder formerly of Bullhead City, Arizona and now residing in Pueblo, CO. He was preceded in death by his son Michael Robert Casner.