A sign on the door of the Headquarters Lounge and Restaurant announced today the passing Alma Farrell, the longtime Maricopa educator and business owner.  

“We will be closed due to the passing of our family member Alma Farrell. Thank you for your understanding,” read a note.  

Alma Gastelum Farrell was an educator and community advocate whose legacy spans generations in Maricopa. She was 80. 

Farrell was the superintendent of the Maricopa Unified School District from 1996 through 2006. Her impact on the small but rapidly growing city extended far beyond the classroom, as she became a central figure in shaping Maricopa’s identity and future. 

Based on an InMaricopa oral history with Farrell and another article as she retired from the school district her impact on Maricopa is undeniable. 

Farrell was born in 1944 in Florence, raised by her mother, Dora, and stepfather, Billy Mitchell, a schoolteacher and football coach. The family moved to Maricopa in 1958. Although initially hesitant to leave her school friends behind, Farrell quickly found her place in the small farming town. 

Farrell graduated from Maricopa High School in 1962 as part of the school’s first four-year graduating class. She married her high school sweetheart, Eddie Jay Farrell, in 1965. Together they raised two children, Edward and Jocelyn. 

Eddie Jay, son of local pioneers Edward and Lenora “Tootsie” Farrell, was a farmer and businessman who continued the family tradition of agriculture. The Farrell family had settled in Maricopa in 1948 and played a key role in developing the area’s infrastructure. Farrell Road has their namesake and the family helped develop Maricopa Mercantile and the Maricopa Water Company. 

After earning a degree in elementary education from Arizona State University and later a master’s in educational administration from Nova University, Farrell began her teaching career as a Title I reading teacher. She later served as reading specialist for grades 2–12, special projects director, director of curriculum and instruction, and ultimately, superintendent of schools from 1999 to 2006. 

Farrell was known for her commitment to youth and community activities and was an active member of numerous civic and educational organizations. She was honored with the Key to the City during a Founder’s Day celebration, recognizing the Farrell family as one of Maricopa’s foundational pillars. 

Her husband, Eddie Jay, died in 1982 at the age of 36. Following his death, Farrell continued to raise their children while managing the family’s business interests and advancing her career in education. 

Her son, Edward Farrell II, would became Maricopa’s first mayor and led the city’s incorporation in 2003. He often credited his mother as his greatest influence. 

“My mother is the greatest thing that ever happened to me,” he told InMaricopa. “She’s my mentor. She’s kept our family together and has been a rock for us.” 

Farrell is survived by her children, Edward and Jocelyn, her sisters, Belinda and Barbara and her grandchildren. 

Funeral arrangements are pending.