Jim Lee Hauser

Jimmy “Jim” Lee Hauser, 89, passed away Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in St. Johns, Arizona. He was born October 22, 1936 in Marshalltown, Iowa, the son of Lester “Speck” Wayne Hauser and Eva “Sue” Mae Eurom.

Jim’s entire family line were farmers in scattered areas in Iowa. His family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona in 1951. He graduated from Scottsdale High School in 1954 and began working for a farmer on the west side of the “Valley of the Sun” and enrolled in Phoenix College night classes.

In 1960 he married Kay Ann Pyle of Tolleson, Arizona. Jim spent their first two years working for Kay's father, Warren Pyle, a Glendale and Tolleson area farmer before moving to Gandy, Utah in 1962, with one year old son, Dale, for two years of farming and ranching.

In April 1964 Jim and Kay moved to Hunt Valley, between St. Johns and Holbrook, with Dale and 6-month old Mike, having rented the 160 acre Harper farm. After the spring planting, he was hired to work for the summer at the Petrified Forest. At the end of the season he began work at the Patterson Motor Company as a mechanic. Over the winter Rob Roy Patterson learned Jim’s vocation was a farmer and in the spring of 1965, Jim began farming for the Pattersons and Kay with her two small boys and a gun for the rattlesnakes farmed the crops the second summer.

In December 1965 the family moved into a home at the Patterson Feed Lot by Patterson Ponds and in February 1966 daughter, Dian was born. Jim’s best friend was Rob Roy Patterson.

Jim never traveled except for his famous trips to Clovis, New Mexico every February for the Ward Bros. tractor/equipment auction. He made that annual trip for 41 years. It was a highlight for grandsons. He and Rob Roy could find and haul home a trailer load of junk (whoops, that is guy treasures) along with tractors, seed and fertilizer from Muleshoe, Texas.

There was a time Jim was working 700 acres of farmland in St. Johns and west of Concho and acquiring far equipment on his own. Jim continued managing the Patterson Feed Lot (winter calving and feeding usually 1300 cattle), the Patterson farm crops renting local fields around St. Johns and his own custom farming business. Eventually he purchased fields around St. Johns as he continued to do local custom farming.

Over the years, especially as irrigation water became scarce with less farming, he began hay sales to supplement the crops he raised; obtaining hay from his brother in Tolleson and his brother in Camp Verde.

Jim’s community service included, President and Board Member: Apache County Farm Bureau, President and Board Member: Lyman Lake Irrigation Co., Board Member: St. Johns Irrigation Co., President and Board Member: Agricultural Stabilization & Conservation, President: Farm Service Agency (formerly ASCS) and U of A Extension Testing Program and inducted in 2008 to the Arizona Farmers & Ranchers Hall of Fame.

All of Jim and Kay’s ancestors, families and extended families’ farm. His field planting were perfect straight rows and he had the ability to know when the moisture content was just right for bailing hay.

Jim is survived by his wife, Kay Pyle Hauser, St. Johns; sons, Dale (Donna) Hauser, St. Johns; Mike (Joelle) Hauser, St. Johns; daughter, Dian Hauser Jackson, St. Johns; brothers, retired farmer in Chino Valley and Camp Verde, Dick (Brenda) Hauser, Camp Verde; retired farmer in Tolleson and Camp Verde, Don (Kathy) Hauser, Camp Verde; sisters, Patty and Mary, 16 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his grandson, Dixon Jackson and great-granddaughter, Emma Elizabeth.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, St. Johns Stake Center, with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow the services at the St. Johns Westside Cemetery.

Following the graveside a Mexican food dinner will be served at the Stake Center, with dessert; his favorite, ice cream. The family would like to invite and encourage all who attended the services to join us for the luncheon for visiting and photos.