Paul Martin Mercier
July 4, 1929 ~ June 16, 2023
Born in: Guys Mills, Pennsylvania
Paul Mercier, 93, of Frenchtown, slipped away from this life while resting peacefully at his home on
June 16, 2023. Paul was born on July 4, 1929 (it snowed that day) at his family home near Frenchtown to parents Leo and Irene Smith Mercier.
He began his working life assisting his father with the family farm. He graduated from Randolph East Mead High School, and eventually moved on to working for Randall Burial Service and ran a garbage route in the Guys Mills and Frenchtown area. His knowledge of cemeteries led to his next job at St. Brigid Church, where he was the custodian and cemeterian for 29 years and sold monuments for Shelley Memorial Studios. He was a lifetime member of St. Hippolyte Church in Frenchtown, and he was the caretaker of that cemetery for over 50 years. He was a member of the Crawford County Cursillo Movement, and an Associate Member of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Along with his wife, he was one of the founders of St. James Haven in Meadville. He was a lifetime member of East Mead Fire Dept. serving as Fire Captain, President, Trustee, and was the oldest living member and could be found there every Thursday night for many years working the front table at Bingo.
Paul went on a blind date on January 9, 1954, and met the love of his life, Ruth Lee Humes. They were
married on April 28, 1956, and they remain married to this day over 67 years later. Together they raised
four children who survive him: Kathryn (Philip Sr.) Young, Paul (Amy) Mercier II, Desiree (David) Wagner, and Theodore (Sueann) Mercier. He is survived by 11 grandchildren: Jennifer (Craig) Beuchat, Kara (Michael) Walton II, Philip (Mindy) Young Jr., Elisabeth (Jason) Janis, Raymond (Diana Matthies) Young, Paul (Heidi) Mercier III, John (Megan) Mercier, Renee Mercier, David (Mattie Vukmir) Wagner, Danielle Wagner, and Tristen (Nick) Grindstaff. He is survived by 22 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved, an honorary grand-son, Matt (Courtney) Sheldon, a beloved sister-in-law and her husband, Charlotte and Harold Sheldon, sister-in-law Clara Titus, and two sisters who were his friends, Lucille Hamilton and Ann Semler. He was preceded in death by an infant son, his brother Francis Mercier, his sister, Margaret Brumbaugh, and a grandson Michael Mercier.
Paul’s birthday on the fourth of July made him Frenchtown’s original firecracker, and was an excuse to
have a summer picnic and party. He loved his family and friends and enjoyed hosting a large gathering
for his birthday. This long-standing tradition was carried on by his son, later by his daughter, and now by a grandson. Once his sons and grandsons became old enough to set off real fireworks, there was a
tremendous fireworks display in Frenchtown, which Paul and the neighborhood thoroughly enjoyed. He
will be missed.
Family and friends are welcome to call on Friday, June 23rd from 2:00pm to 4:00pm and 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Ryan M. Warren Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 544 Chestnut Street, Meadville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 24th at 11:00am at Saint Hippolyte Roman Catholic Church, 26012 N. Frenchtown Road, Guys Mills, with Father Joseph Petrone as celebrant.
Burial will take place in Saint Hippolyte Cemetery, Frenchtown.
The family would like to thank Hospice of Crawford County and Active Aging for their loving support over the last few months of Paul's life.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Paul's memory to Saint Hippolyte Cemetery, 25997 State Hwy 27, Guys Mills, Pennsylvania 16327 or Saint James Haven, 779 N. Main Street, Meadville, Pennsylvania 16335.
Please take a moment to share a memory or condolence with the family on Paul's Book of Memories online at www.WarrenFH.com
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Paul was a kind person and would help u out as he was driving his golf cart around. I had the honor to get to know him. I enjoyed Cutting his grass and visiting with him .I was lucky to know him and the family . He was my adopted grampa he meant that much to me because of his kindness and just being the great person he was to me . He will be missed by all that was in his life. Paul is a inspiration to his family and the people he loved.
My Uncle Paul was a gentle loving man who was also my first boss. We worked in the extremes while shoveling snow in negative windchills to mowing in the heat and humidity of the dog days of summer. He often worked long hours and taught me that it was sometimes necessary to to do this in order to meet a deadline. The best example I can give is to have the cemetery perfectly mowed and trimmed prior to Memorial Day.
I learned from him to do a job right and to take pride in my work, even if it was as small a job of cleaning drinking fountains. He was a great uncle, father, grandfather, and all other family roles. The testimonies from his children, grandchildren, and others express that side of him better than I ever can. He is missed and loved here on earth, but he has joined my mom, dad, and many others in heaven and I know he is loved and happy there.
Michael Brumbaugh
It’s so hard to say goodby to my dear brother. Thinking and praying for all of his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, friends, and of course for my dear Sister-in-law, Ruth. Such good memories we have. We are strong and we will survive. Love to all of you. God Bless You all.
Aunt Ann