He graduated from high school in 1960, and went to New Mexico State University at Las Cruces where he earned his BA in Agricultural Economics in 1964. At university, met his wife, Barbara Handley and they were married on June 12, 1965.

 After a short time working in land appraising, he met Peter Wray of Scottsdale, Arizona, and together they started Pruett-Wray Cattle Company (later known as Victorio Land and Cattle Company) which had ranches in southern Arizona, western New Mexico, Oregon, and Kansas. The company was one of the most prominent and successful livestock operations in Arizona. It was well-known for its ownership of the Buenos Aires Ranch in Sasabe (later the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge) and focused on raising purebred Brangus cattle. Wayne ran ranches for Victorio Land and Cattle Company until 1986.

 Wayne and Barbara's eldest daughter, Shannan, was born in 1966; their second daughter, Valerie, was born in 1969; and their son, Russell, was born in 1971. They raised their children on various ranches in Arizona including the Heady-Ashburn Ranch (Patagonia), the Buenos Aires Ranch (Sasabe) and the Singing Valley Ranch (Sonoita).

 Wayne's work took him to Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and China as an agricultural consultant. As the cattle industry declined Wayne found himself working in real estate and construction until an accident in March 2001 left him paralyzed at the waist and below.

 Wayne was simply "a good man, known by all", whether in his home communities, in the cattle industry, or to family and friends. He was always knowledgeable and had an adventure for anyone who came to visit. Wayne and Barbara Pruett were avid youth supporters and asked that donations be made to the Wayne and Barbara Pruett Memorial Scholarship at the Santa Cruz County Jr. Livestock Association.

Edited by SCS from Jensen's Sierra Vista Mortuary Official Obituary.

Click below to return to:
History
A-D
E-H
I-P
Q-Z

SCS 11/17/24