Jasper Wilkinson,

June 23, 1939 - January 23, 2012

Jasper “Jay” Newton Wilkinson, III, 72, passed away on January 23, 2012 in Prescott, Arizona. He was born on June 23, 1939, in Prescott, Arizona to Dorothy Izona Mitchell and Jasper Newton Wilkinson, Jr., and resided in Prescott, Arizona for the remainder of his years.   He graduated from Prescott High School in 1957, then attended and graduated from AZ State University in 1962 with a BS in Animal Science. Jay met his first wife, Cynthia Townsend, while attending ASU and brought her to the family’s ranch, Granite Dells Ranch, in 1962. Their son, Justin Mitchell Wilkinson was born in 1974.   Throughout his life, Jay managed the family-owned Granite Dells Ranch and Point of Rocks Ranch, a cow-calf operation. Then in 2000, Jay became the sole owner of the Running W Ranch in Chino Valley, Arizona, and operated this ranch with the help of his wife, Vicki A. Wilkinson, until his death.   Jay was past President of the Yavapai CattleGrowers Association, member of the Arizona CattleGrowers Association, member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, past member of the Prescott Area Industrial Development Committee, past member of the original Prescott Area Water Steering Committee, Chairman and founding member of the Verde River Watershed Committee, advisor and member of the Prescott Active Management Area (Water) Steering Committee, past President of the Yavapai County Farm Bureau, past Chairman of the Granite Dells Property Owners Association, past Chairman of Phippen Museum; member, Packmaster, Scoutmaster, District Committee Chairman, Explorer Advisor, District Commissioner, member of Eagle Review Committee, member of Finance Committee and District Training Chair for the BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA on the local level, Board member of the National Boy Scouts of America and member of the District Boy Scouts of America Eagle Award Board of Review.   Jay is survived by his wife, Vicki, his son, Justin, 3 step children (Pam, Rob and Clint) and 9 grandchildren. The family will receive friends on Friday, Jan. 27, 2012 from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm at Hampton Funeral Home.