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Columbus Mack “C.M.” Petty passed away at his home in Globe on July 18, 2023. C.M. was born in McCurtain, Oklahoma, on Feb. 24, 1931. He was preceded in death by his parents, William McKinley “Mack” Petty and Mary Frances (Stiles) Petty; his sister, Inez Leatherwood; his wife, Audrey (Myers), the mother of his children; his grandson, Michael David Petty; and his second wife, Rose Marie (Phillips).
C.M. came with his parents and sisters to Ajo, Arizona from Oklahoma in the early 1950s, where he and his father both worked for Phelps Dodge Corporation at the New Cornelia Copper Mine. He married Audrey in 1951 and they had four children – Carolyn, Janice, David and Lisa - who were all born at Phelps Dodge’s New Cornelia Hospital in Ajo. He served in the United States Army and was deployed to Korea, where he was injured and awarded a Purple Heart. In 1960, C.M. brought his family to Globe and began working for Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company as a journeyman boilermaker. Their family expanded when another son, Brad, was born in Globe. Audrey passed away in 1988 after 37 years of marriage.
C.M. was known for his talent playing his fiddle and other musical instruments. He played country music with talented musicians throughout his lifetime – “Peso” Dollar, Billy Smith, Billy Roten, Troy Porter, Homer Stewart, Kenny and Carl Kendall, Sonny Burkhead and many others. He was part of a band in the late 60s called the Cobre Valley Wranglers that taped their music in his workshop to be played on a morning show on Globe-Miami’s own KIKO Radio.
C.M. married Rose Marie Phillips in 1991 (approx.) and they were together until her passing in 2020.
C.M. is survived by his five children Carolyn (David) Bradley of Golden, Colorado, Janice (Bill) Cook of Globe, David Petty of Safford, Arizona, Lisa Apodaca of Ratcliff, Texas, and Brad Petty of Globe; a stepson, Scott Phillips, of Globe; and his sisters, Aretta Carter of Sulphur Springs, Texas, and Deanna Kinkaid of Puyallup, Washington. He also leaves behind 6 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, 22 great-great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-great-grandchildren.
Lamont Mortuary assisted the family; however, services will be private. Anyone wishing to honor his memory is encouraged to make a donation to the First Christian Church, 401 S. Broad Street, Globe, Az.
