Former Yavapai County Sheriff, Grant Alfred “Al” Ayars died Dec 11, in Bellville, TX.
He was 86 years old.
He was born to Frederick and Una (Dowell) Ayars on Jul 18, 1921, in New Orange, NJ.
Mr. Ayars graduated from Prescott High School in 1939. He married Martha Smith in 1940.
He served with Patton’s Third Army in Europe during WWII and returned to Prescott where he was a journeyman carpenter, a journeyman lineman and a businessman.
He was elected sheriff of Yavapai County in 1962 and was re-elected in 1964, “68 and “72.
As sheriff, he was instrumental in promoting mandatory, formal training for all law enforcement officers in Arizona and was appointed to the inaugural Peace Officer Standards and Training Board.
He retired from law enforcement in 1987 and settled in Lake Montezuma.
He is survived by his son Rick, of Lake Montezuma, his daughter Sue of Glendale, his former wife, Martha Ayars Curtis of Prescott and his current wife, Yvonne “Bonnie” Gardener Ayars of Bellville, TX; five grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.