Georgia Anne "Sis" Mercer passed away peacefully with her family surrounding her at Methodist Willowbrook Hospital in Houston, Texas on Sunday, September 6 ^th , 2020 at the age of 89.

She was born on September 14 ^th , 1930 in Wichita, Kansas to Clay Hedrick and Florence "Flossy" Hedrick. She grew up in Newton, Kansas with her older brother Clay and twin brother John "Bud". She loved to reminisce about their adventures and the mischief they managed to get into and out of while growing up. When Sis was 12 years old, she contracted polio and became very ill. She recalled overhearing the doctor tell her mother that, if she made it through the night, she had a chance for survival.  With God's grace she survived but had a weakened right arm and shoulder that she had to learn to compensate for as she ate, wrote, and did all the things that we normally take for granted.  She overcame that obstacle as she did with other challenges in her life.

Sis graduated from Newton High School and attended Kansas University where she received a bachelor degree in history.  She belonged to the Pi Beta Phi sorority.  She met Bob, her future husband, at KU and after graduating they were married. Bob's career required that they relocate 10 times during the first 20 years of their marriage.  During this time, her children, Mary, Bob, and Steve were born.  Sis quickly adapted and made friends in each location as she did all of her life.  In 1972, they moved to Houston and finally were able to establish permanent roots.  Sis became an active member of Saint Dunstan's Episcopal Church and a member of the Daughters of the King, an Episcopalian church organization.  She volunteered for many church activities including the annual Street of Shoppes Craft Fair whose profits benefited outreach ministries.

After her children were grown, she started a teaching career. She taught children with dyslexia and other learning disabilities enabling them to overcome their challenges and move ahead with their education.  Her patience and kind demeanor allowed her to develop into an excellent teacher. She started teaching from her home but after establishing herself began teaching at Northland Christian school. She taught hundreds of students over a 30 year career helping them move ahead to productive lives.  She retired from teaching in 2014 after suffering a stroke.  Recovering from the stroke was her last major challenge and she tackled it with the same strength and determination she exhibited throughout the rest of her life. After her stroke she couldn't speak or swallow and had difficulty walking.  With her persistent hard work in her rehabilitation she was able to regain her abilities to a functional level and re-establish an independent life.  Her husband Bob passed away in 2016.  After a few years, she moved into the Solana Preserve Retirement Community where she lived her remaining years.  She loved establishing friendships with her neighbors there, attending exercise classes, and playing bridge 2 to 3 times a week.

Sis had a kind, gentle spirit that put those around her at ease.  She saw the best in others and brought out the best in those around her. She had a wonderful sense of humor and loved telling family stories, especially the funny stories. She was generous with her time and energy devoting much of it to the service of others. Her favorite bible verse, Corinthians 13:13, best exemplifies her life, "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love".

Sis is survived by her children Mary Evans and her husband Bill, Robert Mercer and his wife Sandra, and Steve Mercer and his wife Kelli; her grandchildren Amy Mercer, Christopher Evans, Ann-Marie Mercer, and Brian Evans; her 6 great-grandchildren; and her brother Clay Hedrick.

Memorial services will be held at Klein Funeral Home, 16131 Champion Forest Drive, Spring, TX on Thursday, September 17 ^th , 2020 at 10 a.m.  Because of Covid-19 restrictions the number of attendees are limited. Due to those restrictions, service attendance will be by invitation only but remote viewing options will be available. Burial will be at Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in a private ceremony.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to 1) St. Dunstan's Memorial Fund, 14201 Stuebner Airline Road, Houston, TX 77069 or donate online at https://saintdunstans.org/ or 2) Northland Christian School, 4363 Sylvanfield Drive, Houston, TX 77014 or donate online at https://www.northlandchristian.org/

The service can be viewed live at https://youtu.be/9nKXbFG-vcI .