Harold F. McElroy

McElroy, Harold F.
Harold F. McElroy of Paradise Valley, Arizona passed away on Thursday, August 20, 2009. A second generation Arizonan and the son of Thomas Francis McElroy and Leah Ford McElroy, Harold grew up in the Scottsdale area where he attended Scottsdale Grammar School and Scottsdale High School. In June 1942, upon graduating from North Phoenix High School, Harold enlisted at the U.S. Marine Corps Base in San Diego where he qualified as a rifle sharpshooter, and then shipped out to New Zealand and on to Guadalcanal. After his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps in August 1945, Harold attended the Agricultural College at the University of Arizona in Tucson, and then returned to the Valley where he would continue in the family business of growing produce and cotton on the family ranch for over the next 40 years. After retiring from farming and for the following 25 years, Harold continued to put his agricultural knowledge and skills to practical use by establishing and cultivating an extensive cactus collection that would eventually expand to over 900 species. Harold will be greatly missed, and is preceded in death by his parents, former wife Jean G. McElroy and daughter Patricia Ann Mentzer; and is survived by his children Susan McElroy Leger (John) and Steven McElroy, and three grandchildren. In keeping with his final wishes, services will not be held. Contributions in Harold's memory would be gratefully accepted and put to good use by The Board of Visitors, 1801 East Cactus Wren Drive, Suite C, Phoenix, AZ 85020, whose community-based programs have been serving the health care needs of women, children and the elderly in the greater Phoenix area for over 100 years; or Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014.