Graveside service for LTC (Retired) John Mercadante will be 1:00 P.M. Thursday, May 12, 2016 in the Noel Cemetery in Noel, Missouri.

Burial with full military honors will be under the direction of Ozark Funeral Home in Noel.

No local services will be held.

Local arrangements are under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.

LTC (Retired) John Mercadante, age 69, of Lawton passed away Sunday, May 8, 2016 in Lawton. He was born in Amsterdam, NY on August 2, 1946 to C.P. and Helen Mercadante and his family moved to Lawton in 1953. He attended St Mary's school and loved learning, so school officials decided to advance him from the seventh grade to the ninth and he graduated from Lawton High School in 1963 at the age of sixteen. He attended Cameron University and graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1968. On June 2, 1968 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry, and five days later he was married to Frances Eileen Adair of Norman. She died in 2007 after 39 years of marriage. After basic Infantry training, he attended helicopter flight training and was awarded the silver wings of an Army Aviator on August 26, 1969. A year later he was flying helicopters in combat in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with "V" device for valor.

Upon his return from southeast Asia, he enjoyed a series of difficult and demanding assignments including service as a Flight Instructor at the U.S. Army Aviation Center and School, Fort Rucker, AL, as Post Inspector General, Fort Huachuca, AZ, and as Garrison Commander, Stewart Army Subpost, Newburgh, NY. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, fourteen awards of the Air Medal including one for valor, five awards of the Army Commendation Medal and numerous service awards. Upon his retirement from the Army in 1988, he returned to Lawton to join his parents in their family business. In 1996 he purchased several rental properties and managed them until his health forced their sale in 2010. That same year he met an amazing woman, Kae Cameron-Stuart and helped her win her battle with cancer. She returned the favor by being his caregiver following a complex surgery and recovery in 2013. They were married on February 28, 2014 and were devoted to each other until his death.

He is survived by his wife, of the home, a sister, Dr. Cathie A. Norris, Irving TX, two brothers, Joseph and Mark, both of Lawton, six nieces and four nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife and parents.