Ray D. Mercier

Ray D. Mercier, 89, of Rolling Prairie, Indiana passed away Sunday, June 9, 2019.

Ray was born April 21, 1930 in Chicago (Roseland), Illinois to William and Elizabeth (Houlihan) Mercier.

He attended Scanlon Elementary School and graduated from Fenger High School in Chicago, Illinois in 1948.  Upon graduation Ray was employed at International Harvester in Chicago.  In 1951 Ray enlisted in the United States Army in Fort Lee, Virginia until 1953.  Ray was a proud veteran all his life.  After his release of active military service Ray returned to his position at International Harvester in the Overseas Sales Division until his retirement in 1979.  During the 1980’s Ray also worked for the Village of Riverdale as the Zoning Commissioner.

In October of 1959, Ray married Dolores H. Hynes at Visitation Catholic church in Chicago, Illinois.  Ray and Dolores raised a family of four children for 30 years in Riverdale, Illinois.  He was devoted to his son, Matthew in his support of his developmental disability.

In 1981 Ray and Dolores purchased two cottages in Saugany Lake, Indiana where they vacationed as a family for many years.  In 1994 Ray and Dolores left Riverdale and moved to Saugany Lake (Rolling Prairie), Indiana permanently after building the house of their dreams!  Ray loved his life and home at Saugany Lake!  Ray was a devoted Catholic, attending mass regularly throughout his lifetime.  He was a member of St. John Kanty Catholic Church in Rolling Prairie, Indiana.  He was also a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, William and Elizabeth (Houlihan) Mercier and his two brothers, William and Robert Mercier.  Ray is survived by his loving wife, Dolores of 59 years; his two daughters, Michelle Fey and Maureen Mercier, both of St. Charles; his two sons, Mark (Emily) Mercier of Kathleen, Georgia and Matthew Mercier of Lansing, Illinois; his two granddaughters, Erin Fey of Chicago, Illinois and Courtney Fey of Iowa City, Iowa; and his two grandsons, Forrest Mercier of Atlanta, Georgia and Tucker Mercier of Kathleen, Georgia.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. C.S.T. Friday, June 14, 2019 at Frank L. Keszei Funeral Home, Essling Chapel, 1117 Indiana Avenue, La Porte, Indiana.  In honor of Ray’s intense love of sports (especially Notre Dame and Chicago White Sox), family and friends are encouraged to don sportswear for visitation on Friday.  A Parish Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. CST Saturday, June 15, 2019 at St. John Kanty Catholic Church 7012 N 600 E , Rolling Prairie, Indiana. Family and friends may gather at 8:30am CST in funeral home on Saturday for procession to church. 

Cremation will follow and private interment will be held at a later date. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the Share Foundation, P.O. Box 400, Rolling Prairie, Indiana 46371 or LARC, 19043 Wentworth Avenue, P.O. Box 77, Lansing Illinois 60438.

Please share prayers, condolences, and memories with the family at Essling Funeral Home.com.

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