Lee B. Mercier

Lee (Brenneman) Mercier, 87, made her transition home in the early morning hours of July 14, 2011. She left this world to be united with the love of her life, Andre Edmund Mercier, who preceded her in death by 6 years. They were married for 58 years, and proudly raised 4 children. The only child of Floyd Samuel Brenneman and Mary Alice Kidd, she was born November 30, 1923 in Orrville, Ohio. Her surviving children are Steven Craig Mercier and his wife Nancy, of St. Cloud, FL; Alice-Lynne (Mercier) Olson and her husband Vernon of Minneapolis, MN; Andrea Lee (Mercier) Silva and her husband Richard of Ormond Beach, FL; and Ellen Catherine (Mercier) Tompkins and her husband Robert of Bristol, RI. Missing her dearly are her seven grand-children: Elizabeth Scott Mercier, Nathan Bryant Tompkins, Alison Whitney (Tompkins) Maynard, Amalia (Athanaeleas) Kosienski, Peter Athanaeleas, Erica Lyn (Olson) Collins and Stephen Earl Olson. Wishing they had her longer are her eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She will be sorely missed by numerous friends and relatives.

Few who knew her were aware of her military service, as she chose to ‘hide her light under a bushel’ in deference to her husbands’ longstanding career with the US Navy and Coast Guard. However, Lee went to Washington, DC in 1943 and worked as a Clerk in the Army Engineers office typing leases and secret documents. Then in 1944 she enlisted as a WAC, went through basic training at Ft. Oglethorpe in Georgia, and then became stationed in Miami. Here she worked as a Link Celestial Navigation Trainer. That is also where she met her future husband Andre, whom she married on April 25, 1946.

A prolific writer, Lee began writing poetry and short stories as a child, and continued through most of her life. Some have been published, many have not. It was her method of reflecting and coping, and a release for her active imagination. It may amuse her to know that steps are being taken to have her works published posthumously, if only for her family’s enjoyment and understanding of her remarkably creative mind.

After Andy’s retirement from service, they opened an upscale gift store called The Cross Eyed Cat which they operated for many years before permanently retiring to FL in1986. Upon moving to Ormond Beach they became known to all as loving, kind and generous friends and neighbors. Both were active in the Order of the Eastern Star, and Lee was a member of Women in Military Service for America. Lee was known for her writing (not only poetry and stories but music as well), her love for cooking, baking and entertaining, her singing around the house, and love for her family and grandchildren. Her lap was always available for a hug and snuggle. Very much a lady, she never wore slacks, always a dress, and never left the house without a touch of makeup and earrings.

Special thanks need to be said to her many caregivers and physicians over the years, but most especially to Margery Kostman, Bonnie Stein and Jean Sickles. They were privileged to know the real Lee, and we are eternally grateful to them for their patience, kindness and love. Thanks also to the gentle souls at Florida Hospital Hospice Care; their compassion was palpable.

Please join us as we celebrate the life of this remarkable woman on her 88th birthday, November 30, 2011 at Volusia Memorial Funeral Home, 548 North Nova Road, Ormond Beach, FL at 7PM. Birthday cake and light refreshments will be served. All who knew her are welcome, and you know Lee~ she loved a good party!

Arrangements are under the care and trust of Volusia Memorial Funeral Home, Ormond Beach, FL. Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.volusiamemorialfunerals.com.