Donald Halley Tacia

Donald Halley Tacia was born on February 25, 1931 to parents Halley and Evelyn Tacia in the small community of Hubbard Lake, Michigan. In the late 1940s, he played baseball and football for Alpena High School. On February 3, 1951, Don married former schoolmate Betty Dow. In the midst of starting a family, he also pursued a career in education.

In 1963, Don, Betty, and their three daughters climbed in a black Volkswagen Beetle and made the lengthy trek to Arizona, where they would live the remainder of their lives and add to their family. Don’s teaching career resumed in Arizona at Phoenix Union and Maryvale High Schools, as well as Glendale Community College. First Church of God at 9th Avenue and Fillmore Street in Phoenix was their place of worship until he became a founding member of West Side Church of God in Glendale. Over the years, he served the church in a variety of capacities, most notably Sunday school teacher and chairman of the board of Christian education. In the 1990s, Don acquired a lawn care company, which he owned and operated thereafter for the better part of two decades, periodically recruiting sons and grandsons to assist. Even as he stayed busy with family, church, and career, he managed to earn a master’s degree in education. Don enjoyed reading (especially history), teaching, sports, politics, and in his later years, putting together 300-piece jigsaw puzzles with his loving wife and granddaughter.

On March 15, 2021, Don went home to be with the Lord. He is survived by his wife Betty of 70 years; their four children: Sherilyn (Doug) Stagner, Lynette (Ken) Cookston, Janet (Steve) Mitchell, and Dwight (Terri) Tacia; eight grandchildren: Carl (Bethany) Stagner, Catherine Stagner, Bethany (Antonio) Crispin, Cory (Rebekah) Cookston, Tyler Cookston, Kayla (Joel) Toro, Kyle (Catherine) Reichert, and Zoe Tacia; two step-grandchildren: Zachary Mitchell and Savannah Mitchell; fifteen great-grandchildren; and his sister Sandra (Nick) Williams. Don is preceded in death by parents Halley and Evelyn Tacia, brother David Tacia, and sister Eleanor Mosley.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, March 19, at West Side Church of God, 7925 W. Bethany Home Rd, Glendale, AZ.