Linda Jeanne Mercer

by Vicki & Barbara Mercer

Our beloved sister passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on July 28. Linda was energetic, passionate, and loved many things and many people.

She was always self-confident and interested in people. Our father frequently shared a story that demonstrates this very nicely.

Linda was two years old when our family moved from Highlands to a brand-new home in Glenbrook Valley, a new residential development near Hobby Airport. When our next-door neighbor en route to his backyard workshop walked by one of our bedroom windows, Linda called out through the open window, "Hi! My name is Linda. What's your name?"

Linda made friends quickly and took great joy in spending time with people.

She was full of energy. Each time our mother recorded home movies she encouraged her three young daughters to move rather than stand still. Linda zipped around with such gusto that she flew in and out of the frame while Barbara moved only a tiny bit and Vicki froze. Linda relished attending years of tap dance and twirling classes. Piano, not so much because her legs had to be still under the bench. Later, she became an energetic and nimble member of her high school's football dance squad.

Linda loved attending music concerts. Vicki is so very grateful that, in 1968, Linda took her to see Jimi Hendricks at the Sam Houston Coliseum with seats so close on the 16th row. His music & the concert scene totally blew Vicki’s 13-year-old mind. She still relishes the memories.

Linda, always passionate about art, earned an arts degree from the University of St. Thomas in Montrose. Meanwhile, Vicki had begun working for Freelance Research Service, a small company that provided unique library research services and file room staffing. As the company grew, Vicki recommended Linda join the organization. Barbara followed in 1979.

Very soon, Linda became as passionate about records management concepts as she was about art.

In July 1982, faced with the global energy industry crash that severely impacted the Houston economy, Freelance Research unexpectedly closed operations over night, suddenly stranding customers and leaving employees without a job. Linda immediately formed Information Network as a partnership with two long-time friends and co-workers to continue offering locally based clients consulting, staffing & custom programming to meet a wide variety of records management initiatives. After her partners left to pursue other interests, Linda continued operations as a sole proprietorship.

In 1993, as the functional visionary, Linda challenged her programmers to move from the company’s custom-designed solutions to engineer a broad-based software application suitable for Microsoft’s rapidly emerging desktop computer operating system. In the Summer of 1994, her company installed the first desktop version of InSight™ Automated Records & Information Management System. In 2000, Linda incorporated operations and expanded globally as Information Network International. In 2016, the company incorporated her initial vision for software features and functionality necessary to comply with best records management practices into its present cloud version of InSight™ RIM.

For years, Linda was very active in the Association of Records Managers and Administrators (ARMA) as a presenter, committee chair, officer and board member. She happily served as ARMA Houston's President and enthusiastically promoted its "Highlighting Literacy for Kids" program.

She also loved reading to children at her local elementary school as a volunteer in the Houston Independent School District’s literacy program.

In 2005, Linda shifted her focus from day-to-day operations of the company to civic projects. She became passionate about Rails to Trails initiatives that impacted areas near her Cottage Grove properties. One house had been the company's first home office, indeed a lively and productive place, until the company outgrew the space and moved into a series of professional buildings. She also served on the White Oak Bayou Association board for several years. She was a warrior for trail and green space preservation and expansion for all of Houston, not simply her own backyard.

Tragically, while making a presentation before a large audience at a Rails to Trails meeting in the Fall of 2008, Linda collapsed after an undetected brain aneurysm suddenly burst. When the initial hospital emergency room deemed their services to be inadequate for her condition, she was rushed to a more suitable hospital for surgery. The brain surgeon cautioned us beforehand that chances of her surviving the operation were only 5%. She beat those odds.

Following surgery, she was moved into intensive care in a medically induced coma. Her team of doctors did not expect she would recover a life worth living. They predicted she would never be able to walk or talk, her sight would be severely impaired, and she would need to live out her life in a nursing home under professional care.

Her husband, James Reid, would not consider pulling her from life-support. Weeks later, when doctors allowed her to wake gradually from that coma, she began rehabilitation therapy, first in the hospital and then for a bit at Texas Institute for Rehabilitation and Research. James subsequently devoted himself to caring for her at home.

Eventually, Linda recovered the ability to walk and talk, even in Spanish, and sing. In the ensuring years, she managed to find great joy once again in attending concerts and speaking to people.

We will miss talking with her.

In lieu of flowers, our family encourages friends and colleagues to donate in Linda’s memory to a charity of their choice or the Brain Aneurysm Foundation (https://www.bafound.org/).