Ronald L. Mercer, 91, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2026.

Ron was born on October 19, 1934 in Dewey County, Oklahoma, the youngest of Joseph William and Lura Elizabeth Mercer's ten surviving children. Raised on a cattle ranch, he learned the value of hard work, integrity and ingenuity from a very young age. He would employ those character qualities for his entire life. His mother was instrumental in his spiritual upbringing. The family co-founded Camp Creek Church of the Nazarene, and it was there that he gave his life to the Lord – the best decision he ever made. His faith in God was the cornerstone of his life, and he lived out his firm convictions all of his days, in every arena of his life. He graduated from Taloga High school in 1952, and a year later left home for the first time to attend Bethany Peniel College (Southern Nazarene University). It was there he met the love of his life, Yvonne Edwards, and they were married the summer after their freshman year at age 19. They lived in a converted chicken coop (with only three rooms and an outhouse) near NW 38th and Council, in Bethany, OK.   Yvonne graduated on time but Ron was on the multi-year plan and graduated in 1970 with a degree in Business Administration. He graduated from the Program for Management Development at Harvard University Graduate School of Business in 1977. In 1989, SNU awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree.

Ron started his career as a used car salesman in Bethany. They welcomed their first child, Gary, just 13 months after their wedding, and Marla arrived three years later. The family moved to Denver, Colorado for Ron's new job as an insurance salesman. They then moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where, in 1961, he began his 26-year career at Xerox Corporation. Their third child, Lisa, was born during their short stint in Dallas. Ron performed well and was promoted to Branch Manager and returned to Oklahoma City, where their fourth child, Michael, was born in 1965.

Future promotions led the family to Rochester, New York and Chicago, Illinois. In 1975, Ron was named Vice President and General Manager of the Northeast Region, relocating the family to New Canaan, Connecticut. They were members of the Lamb's Manhattan Church of the Nazarene during those years, in the heart of Times Square.

Ron was promoted to President of Xerox Canada in 1979, moving the family  to Toronto, Ontario. After the conclusion of that assignment Ron accepted the position of Senior Executive Vice President of US Operations in 1983 in Rochester, NY where he stayed until his retirement from Xerox in 1987.

After retirement, Ron & Yvonne returned once again to Bethany and built a home in Woodlawn Park, on the same property where they lived when they were first married. (This home had multiple indoor bathrooms). His retirement was short-lived because he was approached by Larry Doskocil to serve as President and Chief Operating Officer of Doskocil Companies. Ron was pivotal in reorganizing the company after the acquisition of Wilson Foods. Ron attempted retirement again in 1989, without success. Local funeral director Gene Adams approached Ron with the idea of starting a distinctly Christian funeral home that would serve Bethany and the surrounding community. In 1989, Ron combined his business acumen with Gene's experience in the funeral industry, and they launched Gene Adams Funeral Service, now operating as Mercer-Adams Funeral Service.

As the owner of Mercer-Adams, he was heavily invested in the Bethany and greater Oklahoma City communities, serving in leadership roles with many organizations including:

SNU Board of Trustees, Children's Center Board of Trustees, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA), Oklahoma City Leadership Foundation, and various bank boards. He was named Vice-Chair of the DHS Commission, and Governor Frank Keating appointed him Co-Chair of the Oklahoma Futures Board. Ron served numerous terms on the board at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene, and served on the General Board of the Global Church of the Nazarene as Vice-Chairman of the Finance Committee. He was elected to serve as a lay member of the Board of Directors of Nazarene Theological Seminary. Ron was an adjunct professor at SNU where he taught Business Ethics. No matter where they lived Ron fully invested in every church they attended, serving as a Sunday School teacher for over 50 years.

He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Yvonne; son, Gary Mercer and wife Sunni of Bethany; daughter, Marla Cole and husband Tim of Yukon, daughter, Lisa Jones and husband Ken of Oklahoma City, and son, Mike Mercer and wife Sabrina of Houston; 11 grandchildren: Josh Mercer; Danica Whitman and husband Matt; Brian Cole and wife Heather; Jonathan Cole and wife Ariel; Cullen Jones and wife Ashleigh; Blair Berrones and husband Frankie; Allie Canobbio and husband Michael; Caitie Mercer; AnnaGrace Rodgers and husband Kyle; Fayth Fitzgerald-Tenpenny and husband Sam; and Seth Fitzgerald; 15 great-grandchildren: Audra, Desmond and Judah Mercer; Lenora and Asher Whitman; Sloane, Crew, and London Cole; Brylan and Parker Cole and Beckam Washington; Ava Cannobio; Louisa, Emmaline and Genevieve Rodgers; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service will be Monday, February 2, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene. The family invites you for viewing Saturday, January 31, 12:00-8:00 p.m. and Sunday, February 1, 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. with family present from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Mercer-Adams Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Ronald L. Mercer Business Scholarship fund at Southern Nazarene University or Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.