- Date Of Birth: May 3, 1933
- Date Of Death: January 30, 2017
- State: Texas
Anna Jewell Mercer, May 3, 1933 – January 30, 2017.
Anna Mercer was born May 3, 1933 in San Angelo to Johnnie Thomas and Mildred (Fountain) Henson. After graduating from Lakeview High School, she attended Howard Payne College in Brownwood, where she received her Bachelor’s in Education on May 28, 1954. Later that same year, she married her college sweetheart, Travis Edward Mercer, on August 3 in San Angelo.
Anna taught elementary school for a few years in Louisville, KY while Ed was attending Southern Baptist Seminary, and then was a much beloved 4th grade teacher at Leon Heights Elementary in Belton where she touched the lives of children for over 20 years. She finished her career after moving to the Valley, teaching 3 more years at Lincoln Elementary in Edinburg.
She was a wonderful, sacrificial and loving wife, mom and Nana. A tremendous seamstress, she altered her husband’s suits, made clothes and costumes for her children and quilts for all her grandkids. Anna was an excellent cook and the very best chocolate chip cookie maker.
She enjoyed fishing for Crappie with her father-in-law, Charlie Travis Mercer, and for Red Snapper with her son-in-law, Paul Beck. Anna found pleasure in needle work, crossword puzzles, gardening and canning, and she was always up for a game, from Canasta and Phase 10 to Rummikub and Scrabble. She spent many Friday and Saturday nights playing 84 with her dear friends, Barbara and Delbert Williams and Grace and Bob Whitis, especially when they lived on the ranch at The Grove.
Anna served her Lord and Savior alongside Ed in various churches over the years, singing in the choir and teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. Many lasting friendships were made in Central Texas, from Val Verde and Elm Grove to First Baptist-Belton and Moffat Baptist, and in the Valley, from First Baptist-Edinburg to Calvary Baptist-McAllen.
Anna suffered with Alzheimer’s for the past 13 years or so and became a “favorite” of many at the former Alterra Sterling House, Stoney Brook of Belton and finally at Arbor House in Temple, where she passed away on January 30, 2017. For the last 2 years, she received comfort care and support from the loving hands of Kindred Hospice.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ed Mercer, on November 25, 2007 in Canyon Lake, her parents, John and Mildred Henson, and her three siblings, J.T. Henson, Ruth Spain and Ronney Henson.
She is survived by her daughter, Sandra Beth Beck and husband, Paul, of Moffat, and her son, Bruce Wayne Mercer and wife, Valerie, of Temple; her 6 grandchildren, Brandi Michelle Beck of Austin, Coy Michael Beck and wife, Taylor, of Moffat, Danielle Marie Farnham and husband, Jacob, of Temple, Erika Nichole Mercer of Moscow, Russia, Andrea Noel Sweet and husband, James, of Edmond, OK, and Kristin Joy Mercer of Waco.
She is also survived by 7 great-grandchildren: Enoch David Farnham, Titus Joel Farnham, Jacinth Grace Farnham, Apphia Faith Farnham, Natalie Ann Sweet, Atarah Joy Farnham and Benjamin David Sweet, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
