Nicholas Minhtu Mercer

Nicholas - - or “Nick” to most, “Nicky” to his siblings, and “Nicholas” (always with that extra emphasis) to Mom and Dad - - was born on November 4, 1992, in Atlanta, Georgia. He passed away unexpectedly on April 1, 2025, leaving behind a deeply grieving family, a circle of loyal friends, and a lifetime’s worth of memories that now feel even more precious.

Nick was the oldest of five children, a role he wore with pride and purpose. He wasn’t just a big brother—he was the big brother. Protective, playful, dependable, and endlessly supportive. Nicholas was homeschooled by his parents and put in French, music, art, and other classes. As he got older, he went to Houston Community College, Houston Baptist University and University of Houston.

In 1999, Nick and his family moved to Houston, where he would grow into a compassionate, thoughtful, and incredibly capable adult. In 2016 he earned his real estate license and practiced real estate for several years. He started several online businesses which he was so proud of and had a knack for. After that, he built a thriving career in the IT world - - earning not just respect but genuine admiration from colleagues and supervisors alike. He wasn’t flashy about his accomplishments—he just quietly excelled, then helped you excel too. He had a knack for explaining complicated things in simple ways and making you laugh halfway through the explanation. He could lead a meeting, fix a server, and make

a Zelda reference all in the same breath.

Outside the office, Nick’s passions brought him joy and connection. He had a green thumb and a peaceful soul, often found in the garden nurturing plants with the same care he gave to people. He was also a lifelong gamer, especially fond of Mario, Kirby, The Legend of Zelda, and Kingdom Hearts. If you knew him well, you probably had at least one long, heartfelt conversation about video games that somehow turned into a conversation about life, meaning, and how cool Gundams are. Nick loved to play piano and guitar. In Atlanta, Nicholas earned his first degree black belt at the early age of seven and in Houston he earned his second degree black belt at the age of thirteen. He loved karate and all through his life he taught and practiced it. He wrote books and even created games and game books. In college he attended film school and loved to make films and animations. One of his favorite hobbies was cooking and experimenting with food. His favorite movies were The Lord of the Rings series, the Narnia series, and old movies. He loved to spend his free time listening to Narnia (the battle song), Elvis and Modern Talking.

Nick brought light wherever he went. He didn’t need to be the center of attention—he just had a way of making everyone feel better, funnier, and more at ease. His laughter filled a room, his presence calmed nerves, and his loyalty ran deep. He was steady in the chaos, kind without condition, and funny in the best and most unexpected ways. He also loved taking care and playing with his dog Fluffy.

Nick is survived by his loving parents, Chuck and Tammy; his brothers Pierce and Alex; his sisters Catherine and Elizabeth; his dog Fluffy; and countless friends and co-workers who were lucky to know him.

We miss him more than words can say. But we carry his spirit with us—in every smile, every shared memory, every act of love. Nicholas, Nicky, Nick… whatever we called him, we were lucky to call him our friend, our brother and our son.