Small Town News

Elsie Mercer 1909-2009

---

Elsie Mercer, 100, of Hulett, Wyoming, died September 10, 2009, at Pioneer Manor in Gillette, Wyoming.

Funeral services were Monday, September 14, 2009, at the Hulett Civic Center. Burial was at the Alva Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been set up in Elsie's name at the Wyoming Services for the Visually Handicapped, condolences may be sent to P.O. Box 33Q1, Gillette, WY 82717.

She was born in Nodaway County, Missouri, on April 26, 1909. She attended rural schools until she went to Maryville High School in Maryville, Missouri. She was an excellent basketball player in a day when girls did not play basketball.

She graduated from high school and that summer met a tall, handsome Wyoming cowboy, Homer Mercer. They were married in the First Christian Church in Maryville on January 1, 1926. They stayed until Homer had earned enough money, $100, to purchase their first car, a Model T Ford. They drove to Wyoming on dirt roads to Hulett where the Mercer Ranch was located. It was 50 years before either one of them was back in Missouri again.

Elsie was a hard working ranch wife. She helped raise cattle, sheep, milked cows and raised chickens. She dearly loved her flock of 25-30 peacocks. Over the years, she canned thousands of jars of garden produce, wild fruit and peaches and pears.

Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren gave her great pleasure. They were the center of her life. Until the very last she could tell you where they all were and what they were doing in their worlds.

Only when arthritis began to take her mobility and macular degeneration her vision did she consider leaving the ranch. She lived on the Mercer Ranch south of Hulett until she was 96 years old. She then lived in Pioneer Manor until her death.

She loved hearing from old friends and her family. She kept up on everyone's activities. In recent years she enjoyed the taped books and magazines provided by the Wyoming Association for the Visually Handicapped. She loved to visit and told wonderful stories.

In April of 2009 family and friends gathered with her to celebrate her 100th birthday. She enjoyed the day to the very last minute and talked about it until she passed away.

She is survived by a son, Don Mercer; daughter, Joyce Eaton; two granddaughters, a grandson and seven great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, a brother, and husband, Homer Mercer.

Arrangements were under the care of Fidler-Roberts & Isburg Funeral Chapel in Sundance, WY.

Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfu-neralchapels.com.



Copyright 2009 The Sundance Times, Sundance, Wyoming. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2009 The Sundance Times Sundance, Wyoming. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from The Sundance Times