Earl Mercer, Jr gained relief in heaven in the early morning hours of November 8, 2024, just twenty days shy of 91 years old.

Earl, known by family as Sonny, was born to Edna Mae and Roy Earl Mercer on November 28, 1933 in Lawton, Oklahoma. He had one older sister, Patricia, and one younger sister, Billie. Earl spent his childhood helping in his dad's grocery store, meat market, minnow farm, and other various enterprises. He was raised attending First Baptist Church in Lawton and was a lifelong member of the church. His high school days were filled with exploring the mountains and playing baseball. He was a 4 year baseball letterman at Lawton High. He was sometimes called Mild Mannered Mercer for his calm demeanor. Earl graduated from Lawton High School in 1951. After high school, he went to Norman to attend The University of Oklahoma. He would hitchhike back to Lawton on the weekends to visit family and Shirley Soper. Earl married Shirley Jeanne Soper in June 1953. He continued his education at OU and graduated in 1955 with a business degree. He was extremely proud that his daughter, son, and grandchildren graduated from OU as well. After his graduation, Earl and Shirley returned to Lawton. Their daughter, Jeanne Fay, was born in August 1955. Soon after, the family moved to Oklahoma City where Earl worked for Addressograph Multigraph. Earl and Shirley had their son, Tod Soper Mercer, in December 1958. Around 1960, Earl and his family returned to Lawton. His position with Addressograph Multigraph piqued his interest in the duplicating business. He opened his own print shop "Mercer's Printing & Duplicating" at 11th and E. Over the years, he ran his printing business and managed various properties around Lawton. Earl and Shirley built a house in Cache on Rock Creek Road in 1977. Shirley sadly passed away in 1981. For many years, Earl worked as an property evaluator alongside his brother in law, John Kennedy. In 1989, Earl bought land in Indiahoma and began planting his pecan orchard. He tended, harvested, and shared his pecans for many years under the name Post Oak Valley Pecans. Earl married Elizabeth Anne Rittenhouse in November 1991. Earl and Beth enjoyed traveling and taking deep sea fishing trips. They lived on the pecan orchard in Indiahoma until 2010 when they moved into town. Earl was passionate about the great outdoors and impressed that passion on many other family members. He shared many fishing and hunting trips with his son, son in law, nephews, and grandson. Earl was a bonafide dog person and typically had a canine companion right by his side. He was an avid reader, even as a young man, with a large collection of books at home. Roy Earl Mercer, Jr was a loyal and steady man who left a lasting mark on all who loved him.

Earl was preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley Jeanne Soper Mercer; his parents, Roy Earl and Edna Mae Mercer; and his sisters, Patricia Howeth Sanders and Billie Karen Baker Sims.

Earl is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Mercer; daughter, Jeanne Weeks and her husband Charlie of Pauls Valley; and son, Tod Soper Mercer and his wife Christy of Tulsa.

He is survived by four grandchildren, as well: Charlton Earl Weeks and his wife Nikki of Norman; Kayla Porche and her husband Chip of Broken Arrow; McKenzie Mercer of Tulsa; and Dakota Mercer of Oklahoma City; and two great-grandchildren: Ivy Jane Porche and Walker Carver Weeks.

Earl is also survived by his stepchildren: Brad Rittenhouse and wife Selena of Lawton; Andrea Rittenhouse Garibay of South Carolina; and step grandchildren Madison Rittenhouse Gorbet, Maybree Rittenhouse Lawrence, Randy Garibay, Sean Garibay, and Tony Garibay. Additionally, Earl is survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and brother in law John Kennedy.

Graveside service for family will be at 11:30 am on Friday, November 15, 2024 at Sunset Memorial Gardens  with Rev. Tom Willoughby officiating.

Burial will be under direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:6