Alma Farrell, Beloved Headquarters Owner and Esteemed Superintendent, Passes Away at 80

A sign on the door of Headquarters Lounge and Restaurant announced the death of Alma Farrell, a respected educator and business owner in Maricopa. The note read: “We will be closed due to the passing of our family member Alma Farrell. Thank you for your understanding.” She was 80 years old.

Alma Gastelum Farrell’s influence in Maricopa transcended the classroom. As the superintendent of the Maricopa Unified School District from 1996 to 2006, her contributions were pivotal in shaping the community’s educational landscape. Her leadership coincided with a period of significant growth for the city.

Born in Florence in 1944, Farrell moved to Maricopa with her family in 1958. Initially reluctant about leaving her friends, she soon embraced the small-town environment. “I fell in love with it from the beginning,” she reflected in a 2011 interview.

Farrell graduated from Maricopa High School in 1962 as the school’s first four-year graduating class. She married Eddie Jay Farrell in 1965, and together they raised two children, Edward and Jocelyn. Eddie Jay contributed to local agriculture and business, continuing a family legacy that began in 1948, when the Farrells settled in Maricopa.

After earning her degree in elementary education from Arizona State University and a master’s in educational administration from Nova University, Farrell began her teaching career. She held various roles, including Title I reading teacher and reading specialist, before becoming superintendent.

During her tenure, Farrell secured essential funding and grants, developed academic programs, and facilitated the district’s expansion in response to Maricopa’s rapidly growing population. Her dedication extended into community activities, earning her recognition such as the Key to the City during the Founder’s Day celebration.

Tragedy struck in 1982 when her husband passed away at 36. Despite the challenges, Farrell balanced raising her children with managing business interests and advancing her career. Her son, Edward Farrell II, honored her impact by acknowledging her role in his own leadership journey, which included becoming Maricopa’s first mayor.