Donald Gene Scherrer

Don was born at home on May 20, 1933, in Shawneetown, Illinois, to Mayme and Daniel Scherrer. His older brother, Jimmy Lee, died as an infant, and Don was followed by two younger siblings, Betty and Dennis. A very intelligent child, Don was promoted to third grade on his first day of kindergarten and graduated from high school at age 16. He served four years in the Navy, earning the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal, and later completed schooling at Southern Illinois University, earning his bachelor’s in accounting. He married his high school sweetheart and they together had three children as he began his career as an accountant: first Mike, born in New Jersey, then Karen, born in Illinois on her dad’s birthday, and finally Mary, born in Arizona, where Don would settle for the remainder of his life. Their union ended in 1976.

When Don first moved to Arizona, he was an accountant at a dry cleaning company for a few years before settling into a long career at Salt River Project (SRP). It was at SRP that Don met Ruth Tartaglia, the woman he would later marry. In fact, it was Don that hired Ruth to join SRP’s accounting department. While chatting one day at work, Don learned that Ruth, also recently divorced, lived in the Cedar Apartments in Tempe—the same place where he was about to move. She told him to drop by to visit, and the rest is history! They married on July 4, 1976, and had two children together, Daryl and Donna.

Ruth was the love of Don’s life. They did everything together. They both loved animals, providing a loving home for many cats and dogs. While at SRP, they performed with the Merry PERA Players, a theater troupe made up of SRP employees. The troupe put on comedy skits, often accompanied by Don on guitar. And when Don retired from SRP, he joined Ruth in working first at AZ Glove and Safety and later at Texas Capitol Semiconductor (TCS)—so they could be together, of course.

Don and Ruth were also active in their profession and politics. Each served as president of the National Association of Accountants (NAA) Scottsdale chapter, attending national conventions and holding monthly meetings in their home. They also actively supported the Republican Party and volunteered together as precinct committeemen. Don was a patriot who believed firmly in his Second Amendment rights and supported the NRA and the right to carry.

Despite their other interests, family always came first. Whenever possible, Don and Ruth attended every family function, concert, game, and activity together—where you found one, you found the other.

Don was capable and caring and found ways to serve. He often put people at ease by talking with them about their interests. For years, he sang and played his guitar at care centers to cheer up the residents, stopping only recently due to COVID restrictions. He also gladly served for years alongside Ruth at her church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which he eventually joined in October of 1999. His Church service frequently involved either his guitar or his finance skills.

He stayed active and engaged in life. In his younger years, he was an avid jogger and went running every morning. In his later years, he loved shooting pool with Ruth, Karen, and Karen’s husband, Mike.

Family members remembering Don think of country music, kindness and acceptance, dumb blonde jokes, love of country, friendliness, bolo ties, spoonerisms, and suspenders. His presence will be deeply missed.

Don is preceded in death by his brother, Jimmy Lee Scherrer, and his sister, Betty Rister (Dick).

Don is survived by his wife, Ruth; his brother Dennis (Joanne); his son Mike Scherrer (Katherine, deceased), with granddaughter Nicole Doyle (Jay) and great-grandsons Jack (7), Charlie (5), Henry (2); his daughter Karen Daum (Mike), with grandsons Steven Ockenfels and Christopher Ockenfels and great-grandson Huelwin (15); his daughter Mary Gallegos (Frank), with grandsons Justin Hall, Joshua Gallegos (Courtney), and Brandon Gallegos, and great-granddaughter Madison Gallegos (3); his son Daryl Scherrer (Jacqui), with grandchildren Charlotte (16) and Solomon (11); his daughter Donna Gilbert (Nad), with grandchildren Nadia (18), Aiden (16), Dayten (11), and Ella (8).

Don will be laid to rest at the Valley of the Sun Cemetery in Chandler, Arizona. A private family service will be held on Friday, August 28, at 10:00 a.m. AZ time.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society.