Leta May Peterson Scherer

Leta May (Peterson) Scherer, our “Grandma Leta” as she became known, peacefully passed away to be with her Lord on August 26, 2017 at the age of 90, after living a rich life, full of great friendships, family and sweet memories.

Leta was born August 24, 1927 in Leoti, Kansas. She was one of four children born to Amel Peterson and Ella Lessenden Peterson. She was baptized at the age of 15 at the 1st Baptist Church of Leoti and in 1954 was confirmed in the Lutheran Church in Hays, Kansas. She graduated in 1946 from Leoti High School and in 1949 she graduated from St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in Denver, Colorado as a Registered Nurse.

Leta then moved back to Hays, Kansas and worked at Hadley Memorial Hospital, where she met her husband Karl Scherer. Karl and Leta married on February 12th, 1951 in Las Vegas, New Mexico and remained married for 56 years, during which their loving union bore five children. Karl and Leta moved to Waco, Texas in 1957. Leta worked as a nurse at Hillcrest Hospital for 25 years and then at the VA Medical Center for 7 years, before retiring in 1989.

Leta always kept busy with many activities and interests. She was an active member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church since the 1960s, including Sunday School, “Over 50” groups, Women of the ELCA, Lutheran World Relief quilting, Meals on Wheels and other activities. She enjoyed gardening and keeping many plants and flowers in her famous “greenhouse”. She also loved crocheting, sewing, making ceramics, reading and watching the Texas Rangers…. often all at the same time.

After her husband Karl passed away in 2007, Leta continued be very active in church and with hobbies until 2013, when Leta moved from Waco to Dallas to spend more time with family and get additional care as her health was in decline. She spent many days with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who gave her joy and fun times until the final days of her life.

Leta was preceded in death by two of her sons, Gregory Scherer (1990) and Kenneth Scherer (2011), as well as her oldest brother Lloyd Peterson and husband Karl Scherer (2007).

Leta is survived by three of her children, Douglas Scherer and his wife Caroline Scherer, of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida; Randall Scherer and his wife Carolyn Scherer, of Roanoke, Virginia; Susan Gatlin and her husband Shane Gatlin, of Taft, Tennessee; As well as her daughter-in-law, Kenneth Scherer’s widow Heather Scherer Smith of Lutherville, Maryland.

Leta is also survived by nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, Josh Comer and his wife Shelley Comer of Dallas, Texas and their three children Barrett, Berkley and Brady; Candace Comer of Austin, Texas; Courtney Scherer Penaranda and her husband Luigi Penaranda of Noblesville, Indiana and their three children Mateo, Sofia and Elena; Ryan Scherer and his wife Chrissi Scherer of Roanoke, Virginia; Kirstyn Rossman and her husband Travis Rossman of Portland, Oregon, and their daughter Adeline; Jake, Luke, Emma and Lia Scherer of Lutherville, Maryland.

Leta is also survived by her older sister, Grace Paige of Oklahoma and older brother, Don Peterson of Kansas, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family will be holding a visitation from 6-8pm Wednesday, August 30th at Connally-Compton Funeral Directors at 4400 West Waco Drive. Funeral services will be held at 11am on Thursday, August 31st at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, followed by a brief graveside service at Waco Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested making a donation in Leta’s honor to the Alzheimer's Association - North Central Texas Chapter.

Arrangements under the direction of Connally-Compton Funeral Directors, Waco, TX.