Lucille Mercer

Lucille Mercer, age 100 passed away Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at the Frene Valley Nursing Facility in Owensville.   

Lucille was born January 13, 1918, a daughter to the late Raymond Percy and Ollie (Marshall) Burkey.

Lucille was a 1936 graduate of Murphysboro, IL High School and a Bland area resident since the late 1960’s.

On May 28, 1952, Lucille was united in marriage to Virgil Mercer in Ashley, IL. He preceded her in death on Sunday, April 26, 1998.

She had been employed at Sverdrup and Parcel Engineering Firm in St. Louis for over 30 years and had been active in Bland Lions Club.

Lucille loved being on the go. Together with Virgil, Lucille made many road trips exploring the U.S. as they traveled. She was very active in her daily life, even up in her later years. She loved animals, cooking, fishing, and being at the beach. Lucille had a smile that would light up a room and she was really one of a kind. Her grace and beauty will live on in the memories of those that knew and loved her.

Lucille is survived by: three nieces, Carol Steinke of Maricopa, AZ, Roberta Burkey of Ohio, and Vickie Naumann and her husband Bruce of Imperial; five nephews, Richard Burkey and his wife Vickey of St. Charles, Keith Burkey and his wife Diana of Mitchell, IL, Floyd Mercer of Centralia, IL, Keith Mercer of Oklahoma City, and Joe Mercer of St. Charles as well as many cousins, extended family members and friends.

In addition to her parents and husband, Lucille was preceded in death by her step-mother, Vivian Burkey; three siblings, Roy Burkey, Chester Burkey, and Kathleen Murphy; and two nieces, Patrice Murphy and Patricia Shoemaker.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at Sassmann’s Chapel in Bland. Funeral services will follow at 3:00 p.m.  Interment will be at Sunset Hills Cemetery in Edwardsville, IL.  

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Humane Society