Ken Maynard Pavey

Ken Maynard Pavey
October 12, 1938 – January 23, 2026
Our dad, Ken, passed away peacefully on January 23, 2026, at Prescott Veterans Hospital in Arizona. He was 87
years old. He was our steady place and our biggest supporter. Loving deeply, caring quietly, and always
showing up in the ways that mattered most. Our hearts are broken, but they are also full of gratitude for the life
and love we shared with him.
Ken was born on October 12, 1938, in Concho, Arizona, to Juanita Irene and George Pavey. At just 17 years
old, he joined the United States Army (after he convinced his mom to sign papers to join early) and proudly
served from 1955 to 1958. During his service in the Korean War era, he was a firefighter, carrying that sense of
duty and grit with him throughout his life.
Ken lived a life shaped by independence, hard work, and wide-open spaces. Managing the Willaha Ranch near
Tusayan for years, just outside the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, where his connection to the land ran
deep. A true horseman and dedicated cattleman, no one else had his way of talking to horses and cattle, he
didn’t just work the ranch, he lived it. Being a true caretaker of all animals, while moving cattle throughout the
ranch, mending a stubborn line of barbed wire or all countless repairs to keep everything running, he believed
that a man’s word was his bond and a handshake was a legal contract. Dad along with Mom, instilled in us a
continuing lifelong compassion for animals, leading by example and always putting their care first.
Later in life, Ken took that same work ethic to the open road as a long-haul car hauler and proud Teamster. After
logging countless miles across the country, he could tell you how to get just about anywhere. He didn’t rely on
GPS—he was GPS. Our own road atlas long before smartphones ever existed, he knew every interstate,
connection and bridge height when planning a trip. Ken loved reading westerns, watching rodeos, spending time
with his family, his beloved cat Mooney, and never forgot his favorite horse, Keno.
Ken was fortunate to live and work in many states throughout his life, including Oregon, Washington, Montana,
Colorado, and Idaho. He settled in Sparks (Reno), Nevada in 1987, where he lived for many years alongside
Heather, before relocating next to family in Camp Verde, Arizona, in 2022. There, he spent his final years on
countless adventures and art projects with his great-grandchildren, Brayden and Peyton.
In 1966, Ken married Pamela Jackson. Though they later divorced, together they raised two daughters, Risë
Pavey (Heather Risk) and Heather Pavey (Rudy Keading). He was a proud grandfather to Taylor Hammond
(Ashley) and a loving great-grandfather to Brayden Hammond and Peyton Hammond. He was preceded in death
by his grandson Trevor Hammond and Trevor’s finance Heather Jo Travis, whom he missed dearly.
Ken was also preceded in death by his parents, Juanita Irene and George Pavey and six brothers and sisters. He
is survived by many loving family members, including nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, who will cherish
his memory and the stories he shared.
He lived life on his own terms, independent, steady, and true, and leaves behind a legacy of service, hard work,
and quiet, unwavering love.
Celebration of life will be held at a later date.

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