Armando Quezada Mercado

Armando Q. Mercado Sr. (86) of Glendale Arizona. Entered into the Kingdom of Heaven on September 27, 2026. He was born on November 7, 1939, in the historic mining town of Jerome, AZ, to Casimiro and Paulina Mercado. Armando was 1 of 11 siblings.

Jerome held a sacred place in Armando’s heart, his first seven years of his childhood are some of his fondest memories. He loved recounting the time he and his older brother walked the train tracks all the way down to Cottonwood-an incredible journey for two young boys. He fondly remembers going with his brother and his brothers’ older friends, throwing rocks at the windows at the abandoned Grand Hotel, the brisk winter mornings walking up snowy, iced roads and steep sidewalks to get to school and church. Following a mining accident involving his father at the Little Daisy Mine, the family relocated to Glendale, AZ. Armando learned the value of hard work, joining his family to pick fruits, vegetables, and cotton. He hated picking cotton because of the unforgiving thorns.

He attended Unit 1 elementary school and proudly graduated from Glendale High School in 1959. While at Glendale High, he excelled on the football field and earned a varsity letter. Though his parents couldn’t afford a letterman jacket, his pride and achievement never wavered. During his high school years, Armando met Hortensia T. Ramirez.

After high school, he temporarily moved to Stockton California where he worked various jobs saved up some money purchased his very first car. He missed his love and moved back to AZ. He married Hortensia and went on to shared 57 wonderful years together until her death in 2020. Together, they raised a house full of 6 boys. While they always hoped for a baby girl, their home was beautiful chaotic-fill with noise, rough housing, and endless energy that only boys can bring.

Armando was a dedicated provider working for years at Goodyear Aerospace crafting fiber glass windows for military aircrafts. He later worked at Dyn-Air and when he retired worked a few years as a school crossing guard. Every single year they would pack up the boys in the family station-wagon to California’s amusement parks and beaches. He enjoyed escaping to Laughlin and Las Vegas with his wife, sister Armida and her husband Joe Gutierrez.

After decades of raising boys, their family grew to include beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren . Family time to Armando meant front yard cookouts, beers, music, trips to the movies and bowling. Visiting Jerome with his children and grandchildren continued and sharing his stories about his life in the small town up on the hill.

He was true to his Catholic faith, Armando attended church until he was physically unable to go. Even then, he watched services faithfully on television and prayed his rosary daily, keeping the memory of his wife and all departed loved ones in his prayers.

He is survived by his sons; Joseph Manuel Mercado and wife Angela, Armando R. Mercado, Gilbert R. Mercado, and Steven Michael Mercado, Sylvia Ruiz, grandchildren; Marissa M. McDougall and husband Brody, Steven Michael Mercado Jr., Lillyana, Jessica, Destiny, Gilbert Jr., Paulina “Mia” Mercado, Sonja C. Romero, Miguel “Bebe” and Tony Campos, and great granddaughters Penelope, June Mercado; sisters Lucy Rojas, and Evangelina “Evie” Nunez.

He has been reunited with his beloved wife Hortensia R. Mercado sons Armando Q. Mercado Jr., and Ruben R. Mercado, his parents Casimiro and Paulina. Brothers; Melico, Casimiro “Casey” and Ysauro, Sisters; Federica, Amy, Sara, Aurora and Alejandra. He was loved immensely and will be remember always.

A Rosary will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church, 5614 W Orangewood Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301, US, on October 23, 2026, from 10:00 am to 10:30 am, followed by a Funeral Service at the same location on October 23, 2026, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am.

A Committal Service will take place at Resthaven Park Cemetery, 6450 West Northern Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301, US, on October 23, 2026, from 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm.