Long time Oracle resident, Carl Hereford Jr., 85, passed away October 4, 2014 at Heritage Manor in Catalina. Carl was born June 15, 1929 in Kiowa, Oklahoma to Carl Sr. and Julia Hereford. Carl joined the U.S. Navy at age 16 to catch the end of World War II and was initially stationed on the East Coast, but, had the opportunity to travel the world, including Italy, Greece, France and Spain, to name a few.
After the Navy, Carl used the GI Bill to further his education in geology and mining through the University of New Mexico. This education prepared Carl for all types of mining, including uranium, gold, silver and copper. Carl was a Federal Mine Inspector from 1957 to 1966. Later in 1966, Carl took a job as the mine superintendent for the Khetri Copper Project in Rajasthan, India for three years. Since Carl had great success in India with copper mining, Arizona’s copper mining industry was in his future. Carl took a position as shaft superintendent with Cementation to “sink” shafts for Magma Copper Company in San Manuel.
After Magma Copper, Carl continued his career in mining , working in sometimes remote areas, including Chile and the states of South Dakota, Nevada, Texas, Utah, Alabama, Oklahoma and others, however he always maintained Arizona as his “home base”.
To many, Carl was a workaholic, a man dedicated to his mining profession. However, he enjoyed hunting and shooting, and loved the outdoors. He had many stories about hunting Blue Bull in India, deer in Arizona and even raccoons in Oklahoma, using his hunting dogs. Carl was an independent, intelligent man that loved to read, especially books about history and politics.
Carl was a very loving husband, father and grandfather, and will be missed by all. He is survived by his wife, Phelsadine; three daughters: Carla Graham, Denise (Skipper) Chambers, Brenda (George) Widugiris; Phelsadine’s three children: Mark (Teri) Anderson, Pam (Dan) McClure, Trinka (Mark) Henderson; eight grandchildren: Andrew Wilson, George Chambers III, Joy Chambers, Dan Jr. (Amber) McClure, Nate (Mandy) McClure, Todd (Monica) Anderson, Tobi (Clayton) Seavey and Mariah Henderson; and, eight great-grandchildren.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that contributions be made to further the research to find a cure for Dementia and Alzheimer’s : Alzheimer’s Association, Desert Southwest Chapter, 1028 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85006-2662.
Carl Hereford Jr.