Donald Richard Rae

Celebration of Life will be Saturday, December 6th 2025 at the Blue Ridge Auditorium at 1pm.

Donald Richard Rae passed away peacefully at his daughter’s home during the early morning of October 10, 2025.  Don’s plan was always to pass on to heavenly places from his favorite town of Pinetop-Lakeside. Donald was proceeded in death by his parents: dad, Alexander Rae Sr. May 6, 1976; mom, Elizabeth Frances Barnes Rae June 13, 1983; both younger brothers Robert Rae by drowning at age 3 in 1942; Alexander Rae Jr. of COPD September 9, 2014; and his third wife of 40 years Diana Joan Bennett Rae of Supra Nuclear Palsy on May 20, 2017; son-in-law Mike Cannon April 6, 2022 to cancer.

Born in his family home in Harrison, New Jersey, on May 29, 1930. Despite beginning life with a heart murmur and allergic to all milk products. He arrived at a whopping 11 lbs & 6 oz.   Growing up Don admired his dad the most.  Al Sr. immigrated to the USA from Blackburn, England November 3, 1923, at the age of 17, with only an eighth grade education.  He went through Ellis Island and lied his sister was waiting for him. The Great Depression hit our country right before Don’s birth. Despite not earning a great deal of money in his lifetime, Al Sr. provided a great life for Don’s family. He made sure all family needs were met by working hard everyday.  Don’s favorite childhood memory was the many summers spent at Longwood Lake, NJ at the cabin is father & uncles built.  Back then no one had electricity and everyone had an outhouse!  Don tells the story of his dad creating lights at the cabin with wind powered batteries. Don was amazed by his father’s ingenuity; since, they were the only ones with lights at night!  Don’s dad was an avid swimmer. He competed against the likes of Buster Crabbe and Johnny Wiesmuller (both went on to be Tarzan in the movies!)

Don lived 95 years full of amazing accomplishments. He attended Public School #10 in Harrison, NJ where he began his love of learning. He failed 5th grade math, so it was ironic math would become his life’s work.  In childhood, he developed a love for sports. As a kid, he recalls playing marbles, kick the can, stick ball in the sandlot, or competing in the semi-organized sports against other kids from the neighboring boroughs.  Don recalls ditching school beginning at age 10. He left school in NJ and rode the train straight to Yankee Stadium. Can you imagine? In his teens, his family moved to Fairlawn, NJ where he graduated from high school. Don’s senior year he ran track for the first time and his team won state in the half-mile indoor relay.  (Someone forgot he had a heart condition.)

After HS, he attended Glenwood Hall Technical School and received a certificate in mechanical drafting.  Along came the Korean Conflict and Don decided to enlist in the United States Air Force.  The Service was good for young Don who achieved the rank of Airman First Class in four years. The AF took him to various locations around the world and he studied the weather.  Stationed in the Tonopah NV & the Maguro Islands, Don ran multiple tests for the secret operation known as the “H Bomb.”  Honorably discharged, Don used the GI Bill to attend Central State College in Edmond, Oklahoma, now a University. He graduated with a BS degree in Mathematics. A degree in Secondary Ed and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of Arizona.

Don was married three times.  While stationed at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma he met & married Freda Sherer.  Together they had two wonderful and beautiful daughters. Donna Jean was born while Don was stationed in St. George, UT.  A few years later, while stationed at McGuire AFB, Elizabeth Ann was born in Passaic, NJ.  After his first divorce, he was once again living in Oklahoma and teaching math at Jarmin Jr. High. Don taught at Del City High School when he met second wife Katherine Mae Sorrells while she worked as a roller-skating car hop at the local Dairy Queen.  Shortly after their wedding, Don & Kathy moved to Ft. Defiance, AZ for an increase to his teaching salary.  A couple of years later Carrie Leann was born in Ganado, AZ. Window Rock High School is where Don was “volun-told” if he helped coached football, he could recruit players to start up a Wrestling Program in 1966. In August of 1967, Don was offered a job teaching at Bloomsburg College in PA.  Kathy gave Don his only son while living in PA, Thane Alexander.  It was if by luck, Don was told he would help coach college wrestling. Coaches usually came from the PE department, never math.  Don learned everything about wrestling that year under the legendary Olympic Coach Russ Houk!  Pennsylvania winter was too cold and Kathy wanted to move back to Ft. Defiance, AZ.  In 1973, Don & Kathy moved their young family to Lakeside, AZ.  Farrell Fish called and told Don, Blue Ridge needed a math teacher, athletic director, and a wrestling coach. While teaching at Blue Ridge Don had the opportunity to coach many athletes; in addition, to the wrestling mat, he coached baseball, and girls’ volleyball.  Don never said, “I do not know how to coach that sport or teach that class”. He just went and did it. Always learning along the way quite frankly just one step ahead of the kids. 1974 season was accentuated by winning a team state wrestling championship along side great local Coach Joe Girard. Yet, Coach Rae had many individual wrestling state champs over the years.  During his volleyball days, many conference & district championships were won. A second place state championship was among his top proudest volleyball moments.  “Coach Rae” was his favorite title! He cherished the vast relationships he built with student & athletes over his educational career. 

Don’s third marriage came in 1977, when he met Diana Joan Bennett Riley. They were adults cast in the HS play called “Up the Down Staircase”.  Diana was an elementary school teacher who had her own children Walter Kent & Lori Sue from her first marriage.  Together Don and Diana spent 40 years married, loved traveling, and being of service to others. They both retired from teaching at Blue Ridge School District in the early ‘90’s.  When Don gave up coaching and counseling at BRHS it gave him time for new experiences. Don taught math courses at Northland Pioneer and Chandler-Gilbert Community College.  Transitioning to civic service in the Pinetop-Lakeside community for 10 years. Don served four years on the town council, two and a half years on the Planning and Zoning commission, one year as the chairman, and the final three years as the Mayor. His favorite past-time was golf! Hospitalization in March of 2024 ended his weekly golf trips at age 93. When he contracted RSV and his health began to slowly decline. Thankfully is mind was always sharp and intact until the end. Kidney disease and COPD combined with age took Don from this wonderful life to his eternal home in Heaven.

Don said his “greatest accomplishment was accepting Jesus Christ as Lord of his life” because life certainly had its ups & downs.  Yet, God never gave up on him and helped him live a long life full of blessings along the way. Don & Diana served in various roles of their church’s too, whether residing in Pinetop-Lakeside or Gilbert/Tempe.   Diana’s alter-egos, known as “Sassafras or Sassie the clown & Ms. Claus”, were often seen at children’s parties, parades, or church events providing face painting and creating balloon art. Don truly felt the love of his church families: Pinetop Baptist, Arizona Community Church, and Cornerstone Community Church and wished to thank each member for their love, fellowship & friendship over the years.

Don also wanted to thank his family for their love and support. Don is survived by his children: Donna Cannon, Beth Cannon, Carrie Jordan (Mitch), Thane (Timberly) Rae. Blessed with eight grandchildren & their spouses: Laura (Jay) Verenakis, Leslie (Jason) Presley, Cristi (Chad) Griffin, Melanie (Matt) Tomlinson, Jack (Beth) Jordan, Mackenzie (Ben) Watson, Topanga and Theron Rae. Privileged to know eight great-grandchildren: William and Walker Verenakis, Caroline and Cooper Presley, Annistyn Griffin, Lanie and Mathew Tomlinson, and Rylee Jordan. 

Our family wishes to thank everyone who has sent cards, text, called, prayed, surrounding us with your outpouring of love and stories of Dad’s impact in your life.  We appreciate the kind words expressed for the man we all loved! In lieu of flowers please feel free to donate in Don’s memory to any of his favorite charities he supported each month:

https://navigators.org                   https://donateshriners.childrens.org                            https://stjude.org

https://parkinson.org                    https://kidneyfund.org                 or donate a bible https://gideons.org

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