Leona “Gayle” Mercer (Willhite), of De Soto, Mo., 57, died Feb. 6, 2015 at home. She loved being a grandmother more than anything, loved house plants and gardening, floating the river, and Cardinals baseball.
She was born in Russellville on Sept. 20, 1957. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Lenard & Gracie Willhite and Edward & Jessie Ruth Maddox, and her step-father Robert Carter.
She is survived by her children, Terry Lee Mercer Jr., Andrew Shane Mercer, and Crista Gayle Diederich, all of De Soto, her four grandsons and three granddaughters; her mother, Ramona B. Carter; her brothers and sisters, and her many friends and Cancer Family.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on June 27, 2015 at the Russellville City Park. Her ashes will then be buried in Lewisburg Cemetery.