LT, USN (Ret.) Laurice W. Mercer

LT, USN (Ret.) Laurice W. Mercer

Passed on to Eternal Life on Wednesday October 20, 2021, at home surrounded by family members after battling Primary Lateral Sclerosis for 20 years. Laurice was born in Castine, Maine on December 16, 1938.  He was 82 years old. Laurice was the first-born son of the late Arthur C. (Bud) Mercer and Nella Louise (Gerow) Mercer.  He was also predeceased by Nella's husband Forrest (Jim) Stone. The eldest of four, Laurice was raised a New England country boy, enjoying the Maine outdoors and sporting life.  He was a member of the Bucksport High School class of 1957. 

Always smart, witty, and handy, the handsome young Laurice enlisted in the U.S. Navy where his clever aptitude was put to service developing and protecting some of our Nation’s most secure communication and sensory systems.  While attending Navy electronics technician school in San Francisco, he went to a USO dance and there he met the love of his life, his wife of 64 years and best friend, Jeanne.  Laurice served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years and held every rank from Seaman Recruit to Chief Petty Officer, Warrant Officer and Lieutenant.  The Navy made Laurice and his family world travelers, living in Puerto Rico, Maine, Iceland, Japan, Florida, Hawaii, and many other places. 

Ultimately settling in for the long haul in Rockville, MD, Laurice retired from the Navy and held a variety of jobs including both military and commercial project management, retail, and construction. With the support of his ever-loving and tight-knit family, and his renewed faith in Jesus, Laurice embarked on an enriched phase of life both personally and professionally.  With his children and grandchildren all close by, the Mercer Family enjoyed all of life’s riches together. Mercer Family gatherings and celebrations are legend, and Laurice was our patriarch.  From graduations, birthdays, marriages, births, holidays, confirmations, and annual pilgrimages to our beloved camp at Patten Pond, we enriched our souls together.  Laurice’s impenetrable faith and herculean strength would carry him through his 20-year, valiant fight with Primary Lateral Sclerosis.

Laurice is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jeanne (Eche) Mercer; his children Jeanine Mercer (Colin) Callahan, Greg Mercer, Andrew (Pam) Mercer, Mary Mercer (Steve) Fairbanks and Chris (Sherry) Mercer; his 3 siblings Beverly Mercer (Ronald) Kerstetter, Frederick (Janet) Mercer, Pamela Mercer Ames (the late Richard Ames); 10 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; and his beloved caregivers (his angels) from Florida to Maine especially, Lili, Tania, and Marleny.   

Visitation will be at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 15661 Norbeck Blvd., Silver Spring, MD 20906 on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 from 10 am until 11 am followed by a funeral Mass at 11 am. Interment private. 

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to ALS Association DC/MD/VA Chapter or Overture International (www.overture.international/), a Catholic organization dedicated to families in Haiti living in extreme poverty.