Marvern (Marv) Mercer, Colonel USAF Ret
Marv Mercer, 88, of Southern Pines, North Carolina, passed away on January 1, 2023.
Colonel Marv Mercer was born March 30, 1934, in Tampa, Florida. Raised in Miami, he graduated from Miami Senior High School in 1951.He received a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1956 from the University of Miami, Florida, and in 1969 he earned a master’s degree from Florida Institute of Technology.
Colonel Mercer had a wide and varied military career. He severed in the air police, the intelligence, and the contracting career fields. He liked to say that when the military discovered he had no intelligence they gave him a contracting officer’s warrant. He retired in 1988 in the grade of colonel.
His military decorations include the Legion of Merit with two bronze oak leaf clusters, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Force Meritorious Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster, and the Air Force Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters.
Subsequence to his retirement he authored three novels and one autobiography.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his first wife of 42 years Oneida, eldest son Allen, second wife of 21 years Sarah and brother Maurice.
He is survived by his youngest son Jeff Mercer, nephew David Mercer, niece Debbie Clift, grandchildren: Erica Solomon, Sarah Mercer, Michael Mercer, Brooke Mercer, Brandon Sims, and Dustin Taylor and great – grandchildren: Haylee, Raymond, Chaz, Jaymeson, and Lane.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Online condolences may be made at www.BolesFuneralHome.com
Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.
