Donald "Don" T. McPherson

Donald "Don" T. McPherson, age 88, of Peachtree City, GA, formerly of Woostock, GA, passed away on Thursday, March 9, 2017 in Fayetteville, GA. Don was born and raised in the small, rural town of Burnsville, WV. He began life with a modest upbringing; his education began in a single room school house. He grew up during the Great Depression, but his family life was rich with faith, great storytellers and timeless virtues. Early on, he learned the value of hard work, education, perseverance and humility. After high school, Don attended Glenville State University in north central WV where he obtained his bachelor's degree. After two of his sons attended Ohio State, he became an avid Ohio State fan and followed the Buckeyes football team very, very closely. He taught 4th grade for a few years immediately following college. Don enlisted into the U.S. Air Force and had served as an officer during the Korean War. After three years of active duty, Don spent over 30 years in the Air Force Reserve and Ohio Air National Guard. He retired from the Ohio Air National Guard as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1989. Don enjoyed great success in his business career with Procter and Gamble. He progressed rapidly and retired as a regional manager after 35 years of service. He had responsibilities for over a thousand employees in offices across the entire United States. After living in Cincinnati, OH for 33 years during much of his career with P&G, Don and his wife, Nanette, retired to Woodstock, GA in 1989. During his retirement, he found joy in golf and traveling with his wife. Their global travels included visits to Israel, Hawaii, China, England and Russia. Don was a wonderful father, grandfather and husband. He was an encouraging role model and teacher - very loving and kind. His lessons ranged from simple life skills like how to tie your tie well and shake a man's hand to the priceless lessons of how to greet suffering and loss with faith and gratitude. During family dinners, Don often brought up current events and instilled an enduring curiosity about the world to his children. All of his children took lessons from his amazing ability to organize life's complexities in ways that enabled them to be quickly understood and resolved. Don enjoyed people and was easy to get along with. He was a source of encouragement for others and was very appreciative to his caregivers as his health declined recently. He loved the Lord and was a long time member of Woodstock First Baptist Church with his wife, Nanette. They were both active in the Senior Group and enjoyed participating in many activities such as the Senior Choir during their 25+ years of membership. Don is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Mary Leo McPherson; brother, Thomas "Tommy" A. McPherson; and brother in law, Bill Stutler. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Nanette Gladin McPherson of Peachtree City, GA; sons, Bruce McPherson and his wife, Joan, of Atlanta, GA Scott McPherson and his wife, Kathy, of Fayetteville, GA, Mark McPherson and his wife, Kim, of Southeast Asia and Todd McPherson and his wife, Sherry, of Sharpsburg, GA; sisters, Patty Stutler of Detroit, MI and Mary Jane Kelley and her husband, Jerry, of Carleton, MI; brother, Ronald McPherson and his wife, Eleanor, of Albuquerque, NM; sister in law, Mary Lee of Burnsville, WV; ten grandchildren, Brian McPherson of Atlanta, GA, Sarah McPherson of Atlanta, GA, Patrick McPherson of Atlanta, GA, Jenna Gibbs and her husband, Bryan, of California, James "Jake" McPherson of Atlanta, GA, Noah McPherson of Fayetteville, GA, Mary Perez and her husband, Paco, of Guadalajara, Mexico, Kelly Monroe and her husband, Clarke, of Kennesaw, GA, Jack McPherson of Sharpsburg, GA and Ben McPherson of Sharpsburg, GA; three great-grandchildren, Andrea Perez of Guadalajara, Mexico, Daniela Perez of Guadalajara, Mexico and Norah Monroe of Kennesaw, GA; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Donations may be made in Don's memory to the Southern Baptist International Mission Board at www.imb.org.