Donald Douglas MacKercher

Donald Douglas MacKercher, born May 23, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan, joined his siblings James MacKercher, Annie McKenna, Patrick MacKercher, Peggy Austin, and Janice Beaver, along with their parents Donald and Ann MacKercher, in Heaven early on December 19, 2025.

Every day, he asked how he could thank God for the blessings in his life. His most precious were his wife, Joan Gatt-MacKercher; his children, Staci Riley, Kari Hershey (Dustin), Lori Baier (Brett), and Scott MacKercher (Melanie); his grandchildren, Corianna Baier, Ashley Alward (Blaine), Savannah Spires (Tanner), Jacob Hershey, Cameron Riley, Layla, and Abigail MacKercher; his great-grandson, Edison Alward; his siblings, Barbara Cole, Robert MacKercher (Janet), Brian MacKercher (Mary), and Mary Alati (Don). He loved being Uncle Donnie and having a home that was always full with his and Joan’s blended families, neighbors, and his beloved nuns.

A 1958 graduate of Catholic Central High School, he earned his Associate degree in applied science and certificate in law enforcement from Oakland Community College (1972), Bachelor of Arts from Mercy College (1976), and Master of Arts from the University of Detroit (1978).

He served as a specialist with the City of Southfield Police Department, where he worked with the Youth Bureau and the Southfield Goodfellows. Yet, his most important service came in interactions he had every day, making everyone he encountered feel loved and important – the people to whom he delivered communion; those in every bakery where he and Joan picked up food each week to deliver to St. Leo’s Kitchen and Redford Relief; the communities for whom he advocated of Providence Place, Senior Village (Livonia), St. Francis Family Services, and Casa Richard; the individual students to whom he and Joan offered a home; and people they met everywhere on their many adventures. There was no person for whom Don did not have time, no child for whom he did not have patience, and no other to whom he would not give the shirt off his back.

Please join his family in remembering his generosity, love, and laughter.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 21, from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Harry J Will Funeral Home, 37000 Six Mile Rd, Livonia, MI 48152, with a rosary service at 7:00 pm. An in state will be held on Monday, December 22, from 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm at St Kenneth Catholic Church, 14951 N Haggerty Rd, Plymouth, MI 48170, followed by a funeral mass beginning at 1:00 pm. Don will be laid to rest at Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory are appreciated to Catholic Central or the Capuchin Soup Kitchen.