Donald C. Maserati
6 May1934-29 Dec 2025
Donald Charles Mazerat, 91, of Crestview, Florida, passed away on Monday, December 29, 2025.
Donald was born on May 6, 1934, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Louis and Florence Mazerat. He moved to the Crestview area in 1971, where he became an active and respected member of the community.
He retired from civil service and the military reserves after many years of dedicated service. Donald was a faithful member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church and a proud veteran of the United States Armed Forces, having served during the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam Era, and Operation Desert Shield/Storm.
Donald was also a member of the Elks Lodge, American Legion, and the Crestview Volunteer Fire Department, reflecting his lifelong commitment to service and community involvement.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Loretta Mazerat; his parents, Louis and Florence Mazerat; his great-grandson, James Ryan Labado; and his sister, Joann Kipper.
Donald is survived by his five children: Katherine Shiver, Donald Mazerat (Sheryl), Michael Mazerat, René Labado (Lynn), and Richard Mazerat; his brother, James Mazerat; ten grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and extended family in New Orleans.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, January 3, 2026, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, with Father Roy Marien officiating.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, January 3, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations be made in Donald Mazerat’s memory to the American Heart Association.
Donald will be remembered for his devotion to his family, faith, community, and country. His legacy lives on through the many generations he leaves behind.
One of the Duke Family's Most Senior members, Donald C. Mazerat passed away at a local nursing home in Crestview, FL on Monday (29 December) after experiencing heart and other related issues. Don was part of a group that came to Duke in 1971 from a 119 Reserve Unit in New Orleans bringing with them a multitude of experience that played a vital roll in making our 919th TAG one of the best C-130A units in the Air Force Reserve.
During our conversion to Gunships in 1975 he left his Flight Engineer job to become the Supervisor of a newly formed IO/Loadmaster Section where he spent the remainder of his career at Duke Field mentoring countless young airmen until his retirement in 1994.
He'll always be remembered for his straightforward approach, commitment to his people and dedication to the Gunship mission. Another highly respected Duke Family Pioneer who served the 919th SOW and his country with great pride and will truly be missed by all of us, especially his Loadmaster Brothers and Duke Field Family. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers as they make their way through this difficult time.