Luther Monroe Mercer Jr., 87, of Danby died June 23, 2014, at Scenic Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Herculaneum. Mr. Mercer was a retired auto mechanic for Wally Berger Buick and a member and deacon of New Testament Baptist Church in Festus. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Born Sept. 28, 1927, in Dry Creek, La., he was the son of the late Ethel Lou (Cooper) and Luther Monroe Mercer Sr.
He is survived by his wife: Margie (Moran) Umbdenstock Mercer; a daughter: Linda (Bill) Oberfeld of St. Louis; one son: Ron (Sherri, who is also Mr. Mercer’s stepdaughter) Mercer of Arnold; two other stepchildren: Frank (Sharon) Umbdenstock of Festus and Beth (Kenneth) Groom of Cabool; a daughter-in-law: Delores Mercer of Bowling Green; three brothers: Dudley (Della) Mercer of Dry Creek, La., Frank (Verda) Mercer of Weatherford, Texas, and Jerry (Wanda) Mercer of Sulphur Springs, Texas; two sisters: Jackie (the late Wesley) O’Neil of Lake Charles, La., and Iola (the late Robbie) McCracken of Dry Creek, La.; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife: Audrey C. (Whitworth) Mercer; one son: Darrell Mercer; and two sisters: Ora (the late Arvill) Moses and Adavee (the late Eugene) Reaves.
Visitation is scheduled from 3:30-8 p.m. Thursday, June 26, at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main, in Festus. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 27, at the funeral home, officiated by the Rev. Gilbert Adams. Burial is in Sunset Memorial Park in St. Louis County. Memorials may be made to New Testament Baptist Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home.