Obituary of Evelyn B. Mercer

Evelyn (Batchelor) Mercer - passed away on September 4th at McHarrie Point nursing facility after a 15 year battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Evelyn was 84 years old. She was born in Oswego, NY to Eva (Trudeau) and Sylvester Batchelor in 1935. Evelyn demonstrated unusual musical aptitude and studied piano and organ at an early age. She was hired as the organist for the Methodist church in Oswego at the age of 13. She attended Oswego High School where she accompanied her high school choir as well as many instrumental soloists. Evelyn graduated as the Valedictorian of her senior class at Oswego HS. Following high school, she attended the Crane Department of Music at SUNY Potsdam where she continued her musical studies and received a BS and MS degree in Music Education, summa cum laude. While there, she was inducted as a member of Sigma Alpha lota, the honorary woman's music sorority. In l957 she accepted a teaching position as the high school choral teacher in the Williamson Central Schools. She remained in that position until 1959 when she married William Mercer who also graduated from the music department at SUNY Potsdam. At that time, they both took positions in the music department of the Baldwinsville Central School's high school. Evelyn is survived by her husband of 61 years and their two sons, Douglas of Richardson, TX and William Jr. of Baldwinsville, NY. She is also survived by her six grandchildren, Eve, Gwen and Rose Mercer of Baldwinsville and Leigh, Mark and George Mercer of Richardson, TX. While living in Baldwinsville, Evelyn served for many years as the church organist and choir director at Grace Episcopal Church and at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. Following three years of teaching choral music at the high school in Baldwinsville, Evelyn established a piano teaching studio in her home and continued to teach piano until 2005. Evelyn dedicated many years of service to the Baldwinsville community. She served as a member of the Baldwinsville School Board for 16 years. She was its Vice-President in 1969-70 and President in 1985-86. She was recognized for her service by receiving the Wm Kentel Award for outstanding board service by the Onondaga Madison School Boards Assn. Evelyn also served as one of the original members of the Baldwinsville Architectural Review Board. In 1971 she was honored as "Woman of the Year" by the Baldwinsville Volunteer Committee. Evelyn will be remembered as a patient and skilled teacher by her many piano students, and as a dedicated and talented organist and choir director by the churches she served. She will also be most remembered as a wonderful, dedicated and caring wife and mother by her husband and family. The family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the staff at McHarrie Place and McHarrie Pointe for the wonderful care she has received there over the course of the past five years. Contributions in her memory may be made to the McHarrie Life Foundation, 7740 Meigs Rd, Baldwinsville, NY 13027 or the Alzheimer's Assn. of CNY, 441 W. Kirkpatrick St., Syracuse, NY 13204. Due to the current health conditions a memorial service will be held at a future time to be announced.