MERCER, Margaret Colleen

Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, Arizona Tuesday, June 19, 2012 Colleen Mercer, of Globe, passed away June 17, 2012. Margaret Colleen Murphy was born on Dec. 30, in 1925, in Globe, Ariz. Her father was Michael F. Murphy, who had just been elected to the Arizona House of Representatives. Her mother was Helen Conway of Waseca, Minn. Her mother had come to visit her sister, who was a nurse for Dr. Gunter, when she met and married Mike. Colleen Murphy’s grandparents had moved to the area in the early 1900s to work at Old Dominion mine and operate a boarding house on Globe Street. Colleen’s aunt, Kate (Murphy) O’Brien, operated a restaurant with her husband in what is now Libby’s El Rey Café. Colleen grew up on First Street in Globe until she was 15 and her father was transferred to Tucson, then to Phoenix. He worked for the IRS after serving three terms in the legislature. Colleen played violin in the Globe High orchestra until she moved. Her father passed away unexpectedly when she was starting college in Phoenix. She went on to UCLA and then to the University of Texas at El Paso where she majored in history, and a minor in English. Colleen was employed at American Airlines when she re-met John Mercer, Jr. from Globe, who was visiting relatives in El Paso. The Murphy and Mercer families had been friends since Territorial Days through Holy Angels’ church in Globe. Mr. Mercer and Mr. Murphy were charter members of the Globe Chapter of the American Legion; Mike Murphy had been the first American Legion Commander in 1919. John, Jr. and Colleen were acquainted as members of a Globe orchestral group that were included in an All-State School Orchestra in 1940. Colleen and John were soon married and she moved back to Globe in 1952. John and Colleen had six children. While raising the children, Colleen worked on her Master’s by taking courses on Channel 8, PBS. She taught two years at Holy Angels’ school in 1964 to 1966. She was a member of the Globe Emblem Club, Madera Women’s Club and Globe’s first Toastmistress Club. In 1984, at the age of 58, she began working at the Miami Public Library and in 1990 she moved to the Globe Library. She retired from library work at the County Law library in 2002. Since that time she has helped her husband, John, in the Charter Bus business until poor health forced them both to retire in 2010. Colleen worked as an election official in the Third ward during the 1970s and 1980s. Her hobbies included bridge, reading, local history, bowling when she was younger, crafts, and baking cookies for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was very involved as a volunteer with Holy Angels’ church and school and was great friends with the Presentation sisters, even visiting them at their homes in Ireland. She and John enjoyed traveling, taking cruises with each other and bus trips with the charter bus business. She loved visiting her daughter in Oregon almost every year for 30 years. She and John also enjoyed attending Lawence Welk performances whenever they came to Arizona and went to see the Welk performers in Los Angeles and Branson, Mo. She enjoyed museums, music, and the arts. She is survived by her husband, John, and children: Theresa (Rick) Sevedra, Kathleen Mercer (Nolan Frost), Dennis Mercer, Tom (Kathy) Mercer, Sharon (Bill) Navarro, and Chris Mercer. Her grandchildren are: Camille Sevedra, Ariana Lucas, Manny, Xavier, and Sean Sevedra; Erin (Mark) Byrge, Ian Murphy, Ben (Clare Parker) Fischer and Spencer Frost (step); Laura and Marina Mercer; Vincent (Diedre) Navarro, Elena Navarro, Brian (Judy) Navarro, Melanie (Lincoln) Hansen, Benino Navarro, and Shilah Navarro; Helen Mercer, Stephanie (Ty) Wong of Australia, and Chris Wayne Mercer. There are also 16 great-grandchildren. Colleen was much loved by her husband, children, grand and great-grand children and her many friends. She always made spending time with family her top priority. She made each friend and relative feel special, taking the time to send a card or letter, and saving newspaper articles she thought would interest someone. She was admired for her kindness and intelligence. All six of her children and many of the grandchildren were with her in her final hours. She will be greatly missed. Services will be held at Holy Angels’ Church at 10 a.m. (9 a.m. Rosary) on Saturday, June 23. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Globe Miami Centennial Band, P O Box 2891, Globe 85502, or to Holy Angels’ Church, 201 S Broad Street, Globe 85501 in Colleen’s memory. Assisting the family; Lamont Mortuary of Globe. ~~~~~~ Note: Margaret is first name on Arizona Birth Certificate.