Funeral service for Patricia Ann Mercer Sanders, 80, Edmond, will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, in the First Baptist Church, Lawton, with Rev. Tom Willoughby officiating. Mrs. Sanders died Friday, July 12, in Oklahoma City. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home. Mrs. Sanders was born November 29, 1932 in Lawton, Oklahoma, to Roy Earl Mercer, Sr. and Edna Mae (Pipes) Mercer. She grew up in Lawton and attended Washington and Wilson Elementary Schools, Lawton Junior High School and was a graduate of Lawton Senior High School. Pat began to play the piano at the age of five when she took lessons from a neighbor. Her parents bought her a piano when they moved into their new home a year later. Pat was always interested in music and played the piano and marimba when she was in high school as well as sang in school and church choirs. She played the piano for church services and in various departments throughout the church. She married Vernon Howeth in 1950 and they had two children. She wanted to teach piano lessons in her home but knew she had to have formal education before she would be accredited. In order to achieve her goal she went to Cameron College at the age of 28 for two years and then transferred to Oklahoma College for Women in Chickasha. By this time she knew she wanted to teach music in the school system. Also, during this time she was teaching piano lessons to beginners in her home in order to pay for her education. She graduated from OCW in 1965 with a Bachelor of Music degree and began her teaching career at John Adams Elementary School in Lawton where she tried to make learning fun for the students while they learned some of the concepts and principals of music. Going back to school took a toll on her marriage and Vernon and Pat divorced in 1971. Pat felt the call to teach a Sunday school class of 18 year old girls, which she did for many years. She and Vernon also worked with intermediate girls and boys in Training Union. A new concept of open space was conceived for an elementary school in Lawton and Pat was anxious to be part of it. Joining with other interested teachers she began her tenure at Crosby Park Elementary as their music teacher. Some of her duties were to prepare an opening assembly each morning before classes began, where students and faculty gathered together for a positive start to their day by singing and recognizing accomplishments of students. She produced many programs during her teaching career, vocal and dramatic. She established a vocal group called the "Singing Stars" with qualified students at Crosby Park and they performed at various events within the community. She stayed at Crosby Park until her retirement 19 years later. She married Speck Sanders in 1995. They were very happy together. Pat volunteered at the First Baptist Church in the library and other committees while Speck enjoyed playing Golf. Speck went to be with our Lord in July 2003. Pat continued her passion to help in the library of FBC and volunteering for various events at the church. She moved to Edmond several years ago to be near her daughter. While there she was very active in Quail Springs Baptist Church and volunteered in the church library. She is survived by a daughter and son in law, Sharon and Ken Onley, Edmond; a son and daughter in law, Dee Wayne and Rebecca Howeth, Broken Arrow; a step son and daughter in law, Gene and Becky Sanders, Muskogee; four grandchildren; six great grandchildren; four step grandchildren; five step great grandchildren; a brother and sister in law, Earl Mercer, Jr. and his wife Beth, Lawton. Her parents and a sister, Billie Karen Sims, preceded her in death. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association in Oklahoma, 1010 E. 8th Street Tulsa, OK 74120