Joyce Lynn Mertz

Joyce Lynn (Hill) Mertz, 89, of Rogers, Texas went to her heavenly home on October 18, 2024. She passed peacefully in her sleep after winning a game of Bingo with happy thoughts of her family’s upcoming visit on her mind.

Joyce was born on January 7, 1935, in Temple, Texas as the middle daughter to Leslie “Cotton” Hill and Lessie (Riddle) Hill. She graduated from Rogers High School where she lettered in basketball, her favorite sport. As a senior, she played in the State Championship game. She married the love of her life, Allen James Mertz, also of Rogers, on September 6, 1953, and, with him, raised three strong children who grew up to be cornerstones of their respective communities. Joyce worked as an Accountant and retired from Texas Hydraulics after providing them with many years of honest and faithful service. She was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Rogers. She enjoyed cooking for her family and friends and kept a beautiful flower garden. She was a superb wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother and will be sorely missed by all.

She is preceded in death by her parents “Cotton” and Lessie, her three sisters Patsy Fay Sebek (Pat’s twin Alice Mae Hill, who died unexpectedly shortly after birth) and Ruby Hill Jungmann. Allen, her devoted husband of 57 years passed on November 11, 2010.

She is survived by her children, Debbie Mertz Grieder (fiancé Richard Brown) of New Braunfels, Texas, Kevin Mertz (wife Pattie) of Holland, Texas and Judy Lynn Mertz Nichols (husband Steven) of Rogers, Texas. She also leaves 11 grandchildren to include Ashley Grieder (husband Sumeet Chavan) of San Antonio, Texas, Kristy Grieder of Carlsbad, California, Adam Grieder of Austin, Texas, Brody Mertz (wife Nikki) of Rogers, Texas, Kylie Mertz Psencik (husband Marcus) of Burlington, Texas, Bailey Mertz (fiancé Colby Malovets) of Temple, Texas, Chad Gommert (wife Jamie) of Holland, Texas, Chase Gommert (wife Erica) of Holland, Texas, Susan Nichols Natal (husband Eric) of Rockwall, Texas, Billy Nichols of Clements, Maryland and Becky Nichols Athanason (husband Alex) of Ocala, Florida. In addition, she leaves 18 great grandchildren.

Arrangements are entrusted to Scanio-Harper Funeral Home of Temple, Texas. A visitation is scheduled for Friday, October 25, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home. Her funeral will be on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Rogers, Texas. Interment will follow at the Rogers Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joyce’s name to the First Baptist Church of Rogers.