David Stratton

1935 - 2025

David Andrew Stratton, RLS, a former resident of Safford for many years, passed away at his home in Mesa on Friday, December 12, 2025 after six months of loving care by his wife, daughters and granddaughter. His body was donated to science, will be cremated and interred in the family plot in Safford, AZ at a later date.
He was a Registered Land Surveyor in Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada. He completed survey assignments in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, California and Nevada.
He was born at his Stratton Grandparents' home in Dawson, NE on June 5, 1935 to John and Edythe Stratton (formerly of Safford), the only boy with four sisters. He attended elementary school at Honey Creek near Salem, NE and graduated from Falls City High School, NE in 1952. After working for two years in Lincoln, NE he joined the army and took basic training in El Paso, TX. As he was on the way to Korea, the armistice agreement was signed and he spent his time in the service as a truck driver.
After his discharge in early 1956, he moved to Kansas City, MO to study electronic engineering. While attending school he met Jo Ann Meyer from Randolph, NE, who he married November 10, 1956. They moved to Wichita, KS where he worked in a large print shop. Their two oldest daughters, Ann and Jacquelyenne "JJ" were born in Wichita.
They decided to move to Arizona in 1960 where he began his over fifty year career in land surveying in Flagstaff then on to Cottonwood where daughter #3, Heide, was born. Next move was to Prescott where he was employed by the Forest Service. In 1963, next came Clifton where daughter #4, Yllonda "Londi", was born and he continued surveying. He served as Chief Deputy Assessor for Greenlee County for two years.
While in Clifton, he formed a car club and they built a stock car race course at Apache Grove. The Four Cylinder Club contacted him about moving the Hill Climb from the Verde Valley to Clifton beginning in 1966. He and his family remained active with the Clifton Hill Climb for all remaining races, with a great grandson being a very active corner worker at the last race in 2022.
The family moved to the Gila Valley in 1967 and purchased their beloved home in Thunderbird Hills which remained their most prized possession for 55 years. Only son Meyer "Mike" and youngest daughter Malinda were born in Safford.
He operated a land surveying company in Safford for 15 years and moved on to Hobbs, NM, Yuma, AZ, and Phoenix, AZ where he was in charge of the survey department for a large engineering company. The next move was to Kingman, AZ, where he was the Mohave County Surveyor. Finally they were able to move back to their beloved home in Thunderbird Hills outside Safford in 1996, where he did occasional surveys until his retirement and eventual move to Mesa, Az in 2022.
He is predeceased by his oldest grandson Wayne (Courtney Senitza) Ford, his oldest great grandson Tony Jeffery, his parents, four sisters and their husbands Elnora Mack, Virden, NE, Ruth Brammer, Henderson, NV, Phyllis Luebs, Auburn, NE (formerly Safford), and Arlene Johnson, Slidell, LA, along with several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, great great nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his wife Jo Ann, his daughters and their husbands, Ann (Martin Kroll) Willcox, AZ, JJ (Glen Davis) Phoenix, AZ, Heide (Ron Young) Mesa, AZ, Londi (Frank Ford), Glendale, AZ, Malinda (Lynn Bloomfield) Phoenix, AZ and only son Mike, Kingman, AZ; granddaughters Malinda Hinton, Shiona Ford, Dallace (Luke) Luter; grandsons Andrew "AJ" (Carly) Young, David "DJ" (Mae) Young; great granddaughters Elizabeth Guilford, Leah Hart, Eden Luter, Sophie Young; great grandsons Ethan Hinton, Grant Hinton, Liam David Luter, and Lucas Young. Over three hundred nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, great great nieces and nephews, great great great nieces and nephews (most of them living in Nebraska).
Condolences may be sent to the home at 615 E 1st Place, Mesa, AZ 85203. Memorial services will be held at the American Legion Post #26 and the family home at a later date.