Donald "Don" Driggars

Oro Valley resident Donald Driggars passed away peacefully in his home on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, after a long battle with liver cancer and kidney disease. He was 78 years old. His partner of 38 years and spouse of over 2 years, Jerry Olivier, and his son Stephen, were with him when he passed. Don was born in 1938 in Broken Bow, OK. He was the youngest of four children and the only boy. His parents, Ira and Ruby Driggars, brought the family to California and Oregon during the Great Depression in search of work. Don told stories of his family piling into an old Ford and driving across the U.S., stopping at night to pull a mattress off the roof and sleeping by the side of the road, and spending Christmas in a tent in the Arizona desert. As a teenager, Don worked in the lumber mills in Roseburg, Oregon. He married his high school sweetheart, Charline, on December 31, 1959. They had 3 children together. They were separated and eventually divorced, but remained friends until Charline passed away in December 1992. He attended Clark College in Vancouver, WA. and was the editor of the 1959 yearbook. He worked at Family Finance and Moore Steel in Roseburg, before moving with the family to Springfield, Oregon to learn a new trade at the Springfield College of Beauty. He worked at several hair salons as a stylist before buying his own business, Illusions by Don, with his partner, Jerry Olivier. They sold the business in 1992 and went into semi-retirement. Don began a new career as an artist and his paintings were sold in galleries in Oregon and Arizona. He taught art workshops for oil painting and shared his talent with many friends and family members whom he also taught to paint. He loved music and taught himself to play guitar and piano. Don had a beautiful singing voice and he used to play guitar with the family, singing songs by artists such as John Denver, Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, and Peter, Paul, and Mary. Don was also a writer, and his monthly newsletters detailing the life he and Jerry had together and his musings on life will be missed by the many friends and family who loved him. He and Jerry took many trips around the world, including to Africa, Thailand, Egypt, the Galapagos Islands, Europe, and many other exotic locations. It always amazed him that a country boy from Oklahoma could live such a life. Don and Jerry were married in a double wedding with their son Stephen Driggars and his bride Jennifer Lee on July 27, 2014 at the McMennamins Kennedy School in Portland, Oregon. Don loved his family and looked forward to the annual retreats he and Jerry took to Black Butte Ranch and Newport Oregon, to visit with family and friends in the beautiful central Oregon forest. Don is survived by his spouse, Jerry Olivier of Oro Valley, Arizona; children, Stephen Driggars of Hillsboro, Oregon; Sandy Driggars of Sutherlin, Oregon, and Shari Driggars of Eugene, Oregon; and his five grandchildren, Anthony, Kevin, Kristina, Brianna, and Brandon. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Ira and Ruby, and his sisters, Billie, Betty, and Sue. Don was a kind, gentle, humble and loving soul. He was deeply loved by many and will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a charity of your choice. Alternatively, you can donate to help offset the hospital costs for Don and Jerry’s 8-month old puppy Teddy, who was hospitalized the day before Don passed. You can read the story and donate to Teddy here: https://www.gofundme.com/TeddyOlivier A celebration of life will be scheduled later this year. The family will notify friends and family of the location when it has been determined.