Bertha Louise Scott Gorraiz

Bertha Louise Scott Gorraiz passed from this Earth to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Monday, July 12, 2021. She was comforted and surrounded by her family at home in Phoenix, Arizona and passed peacefully. She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Pete Gorraiz; 6 children: Pete, Joe, Pat, Amalia Ann, Rhonda Gay and Kathy (Neville); 12 grandchildren: Jenna, Maggie & Katie; Michael, Mitch, Eric & Greg; Isabella “Nicki”; Colton, Cooper, Coby & Carter; and 9 great-grandchildren: Dylan, Carson & Kennedy; Olivia, Layla, Marley & Cash; Senan; and Zadie; and a brother, Ron Scott and sister, Juanice Scott. She leaves behind countless family members and close friends, all of whom were very special to her. She was preceded in death by her brothers Gene and Donny Scott.

Born in Littlefield, Texas, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1938 at the age of 4 and never moved from the State. She attended Creighton Elementary Grade School, North Phoenix High School and Grand Canyon College, where she earned her degree in Education. She never missed a single day of attendance during the entire 16 years. It was at Grand Canyon where she met Pete and they were married in 1954 at Eastside Baptist Church.

Eastside was her one and only Church Membership where she was a Teacher throughout her entire life, as well as played the piano and sang in the choir. She was the only pitcher for Eastside’s Women’s fast pitch softball team and went on to be a teaching coach at softball camps. She was also instrumental in spearheading a food drive at Eastside for the hungry of St. Mary’s Food Bank.

During her 87 years, she lived a very full life. She taught first grade at Simpson Elementary School and led a pre-school classroom where she created her own curriculum. After several years of teaching, she decided to be a homemaker. She was genuinely involved with her children, attending practically every event they had, whether it was a school play, musical concert or sporting event. She donated her time being Den Mother for Boy Scouts, Troop Leader for Girl Scouts, PTA Member and Home Room Mother – even for classrooms that had no other Home Room Mother.

She supported her children in any endeavor they wished to pursue. Her support extended to many of her children’s friends, as well as various family members when needed and watched neighborhood children after school. She drove her children anywhere they needed to go, as well as their friends – allowing them to be at their best, too. There were a great number of varied pets over the years – from dogs & cats to tumbling pigeons, snakes, ferrets, gerbils, fish, hermit crabs, a parrot, parakeets, a chicken and even a tarantula.

Over the years, she was involved in a bowling league, enjoyed traveling and donated over 15 gallons of blood. She enjoyed various jobs, like working at the Arabian Horse Show, at the Mackinac Island Fudge Booth at the Arizona State Fair for 17 years, working at Mervyn’s Department store for nearly 2 decades and volunteering at the polling station. She continued to stay involved in the Community and Church.

She was athletic, a fierce competitor and a dedicated student. In Elementary School, she held the Arizona State Long Jump Record. While attending Grand Canyon College, she was instrumental in permanently changing the school colors. She and her friends passed petitions throughout the student body and as a result, they were successful in changing the colors from its former colors of brown & yellow to the existing purple & white. Her actions directly influenced the re-writing of the bylaws, wherein these colors ‘are never to be changed again’. Those bylaws still stand today. During the past 10 years, she and Pete were greatly involved in Grand Canyon University Alumni activities, volunteering their time to serve students & families at Tailgates prior to Home basketball games. She and Pete enjoyed their season tickets year after year. She will be missed on the sidelines. She was also on the GCU Guild, assisting in making decisions on giving out Scholarships to deserving applicants.

She was an avid follower of the Phoenix Suns & the Arizona Diamondbacks. She loved watching Professional Tennis & College softball and enjoyed family games, crossword puzzles and, of course, Coca-Cola.

Flowers & Condolences can be sent to A.L. Moore-Grimshaw Mortuaries / 710 W. Bethany Home Road / 85014