William Stuart Mercer, 86, of The Woodlands, Texas, died Friday, January 10, 2020 after a short stay in the hospital. Bill was born on July 31, 1933 in Springfield, Illinois. He served four years of active duty in the United States Navy and was honorably discharged. Bill attended the University of Illinois, graduating in 1960. He was a Certified Public Accountant and started his professional career at Price Waterhouse in San Francisco and in New York City. He had a successful career working at Magnavox, National Industries, VF Corporation, Powell Industries, and Monarch Paint, living in Englishtown, New Jersey; Louisville, Kentucky; Wyomissing, Pennsylvania; Leawood, Kansas; Lake Charles, Louisiana; and The Woodlands, Texas. From each of his homes, he adopted the very best of that culture and tradition.
Bill is predeceased by his parents, Stuart Moine Mercer and Helen (Aiken) Mercer, three brothers, Jack Mercer, Paul Mercer, and Frank Mercer and a sister, Mary Ralano. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Patricia (Kenna) Mercer; three children: Kenna Seiler and her husband, Michael Seiler, Kell Corrigan Mercer and his wife, Kathryn Mercer, and Jude-Anna Sadlier and her husband, Andreas Sadlier; grandchildren, Ethan Louis Seiler, Rachael Elizabeth Seiler, William Stuart Mercer, II, Caroline Malone Mercer, Mercer Alexander Sadlier, Wiley Green Sadlier, Corrigan Boyd Sadlier, and Quinn-Cara Laurel Sadlier; a sister Elizabeth Hovious and several nieces and nephews.
Bill loved everything Louisiana, including food and LSU football. He had a passion for the Houston Astros and Texas barbeque. He traveled the country by train and his family has wonderful memories of trips to Wildwood, Disney World and Williamsburg. Bill was a fantastic storyteller and a master of corny jokes and witty puns. He was a First-Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus, Council No. 12327  and a member of Senior Pals. After retirement, he served as a precinct chair for several years for the Montgomery County Republican Party, was an active member of Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church and enjoyed watching his Sadlier grandchildren in their many performances with Class Act Productions and The Woodlands High School Theater.
Bill and Patty modeled the ideal marriage, based upon love and faith, always referring to his bride as "the former Patty Kenna." One of the happiest days of his life was when he became Catholic at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Kansas City. He taught his children the value of hard work and devotion to family. Papa adored his grandchildren and cherished the unique relationship he had with each of them.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in The Woodlands, Texas at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his memory to Rettsyndrome.org, 4600 Devitt Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246