Rex Gary Mercer, 50, of Healy, died at home, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, after shoveling snow in extremely cold temperatures.
Rex was born June 20, 1961, in Fairbanks to Berle and Claire Mercer of Healy.
Rex grew up as the fifth of six children.
Rex began school at home. He attended public school in third grade at the schoolhouse in Old Healy. He graduated Tri-Valley High School in 1979. Rex was manager of the boys' varsity basketball team for two years. His home today has furniture he made in shop class.
The Healy Valley Lions Club sent Rex to the United Kingdom when he was 17 as part of its youth exchange program. He had a jolly good time.
Rex attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks from September 1980 to May 1981, then from September to December 1981, working toward a degree in elementary education. An automobile accident in January 1982 left Rex with traumatic head injuries, changing the course of his life. He spent eight months in Anchorage hospitals recuperating and relearning old skills before returning home to Healy.
Rex was gregarious. From the time he was a little boy, he was outgoing and ready to make new friends. As an adult, Rex enjoyed socializing and could frequently be found at "the Totem." Rex treasured his old friendships. He often phoned family and friends just to stay in touch. He didn't wait for a special reason to call, and he was happy to hear from others.
Visitors to his home were treated to a beverage, snack and a choice of music from his eclectic collection of LP records, 45s, cassettes and CDs. Rex loved a good joke and even appreciated poor ones. He'd get laughing so hard his shoulders would shake. When exasperated or irritated, he'd often widen his eyes, exclaiming "Yeesh!" Among his favorite foods was tongue, be it moose or beef.
Rex was a member of both the Lions and Aurora clubs.
Family was important to Rex. The recent deaths of his parents and brother strengthened his bond with other family members.
Rex's nieces and nephews were a source of joy to him. He said it made him feel old watching them grow so quickly from babies to teens and into adulthood. Their birthdays, graduations, weddings and the births of their children made him happy.
Rex was preceded in death by his parents in 2008, and by his younger brother, Howard, in 2009.
Rex is survived by his brother Baxter, sister-in-law Renee, brother Dwight, brother Kirk and partner Regina, all of Healy, and by his sister Wilma, and brother- in-law Deric Marcorelle of Sterling.
Other family members include nieces Heather Mercer, Delila Schmidt, Kaila Boone, Monica Mercer and Aubrey Marcorelle; nephews Kyle Mercer, James Ford, Erik Mercer and Brick Marcorelle; and great-nephews Brendan and Blake.
Rex was born June 20, 1961, in Fairbanks to Berle and Claire Mercer of Healy.
Rex grew up as the fifth of six children.
Rex began school at home. He attended public school in third grade at the schoolhouse in Old Healy. He graduated Tri-Valley High School in 1979. Rex was manager of the boys' varsity basketball team for two years. His home today has furniture he made in shop class.
The Healy Valley Lions Club sent Rex to the United Kingdom when he was 17 as part of its youth exchange program. He had a jolly good time.
Rex attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks from September 1980 to May 1981, then from September to December 1981, working toward a degree in elementary education. An automobile accident in January 1982 left Rex with traumatic head injuries, changing the course of his life. He spent eight months in Anchorage hospitals recuperating and relearning old skills before returning home to Healy.
Rex was gregarious. From the time he was a little boy, he was outgoing and ready to make new friends. As an adult, Rex enjoyed socializing and could frequently be found at "the Totem." Rex treasured his old friendships. He often phoned family and friends just to stay in touch. He didn't wait for a special reason to call, and he was happy to hear from others.
Visitors to his home were treated to a beverage, snack and a choice of music from his eclectic collection of LP records, 45s, cassettes and CDs. Rex loved a good joke and even appreciated poor ones. He'd get laughing so hard his shoulders would shake. When exasperated or irritated, he'd often widen his eyes, exclaiming "Yeesh!" Among his favorite foods was tongue, be it moose or beef.
Rex was a member of both the Lions and Aurora clubs.
Family was important to Rex. The recent deaths of his parents and brother strengthened his bond with other family members.
Rex's nieces and nephews were a source of joy to him. He said it made him feel old watching them grow so quickly from babies to teens and into adulthood. Their birthdays, graduations, weddings and the births of their children made him happy.
Rex was preceded in death by his parents in 2008, and by his younger brother, Howard, in 2009.
Rex is survived by his brother Baxter, sister-in-law Renee, brother Dwight, brother Kirk and partner Regina, all of Healy, and by his sister Wilma, and brother- in-law Deric Marcorelle of Sterling.
Other family members include nieces Heather Mercer, Delila Schmidt, Kaila Boone, Monica Mercer and Aubrey Marcorelle; nephews Kyle Mercer, James Ford, Erik Mercer and Brick Marcorelle; and great-nephews Brendan and Blake.
Rex Gary Mercer, 50, of Healy, died at home, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, after shoveling snow in extremely cold temperatures.
Rex was born June 20, 1961, in Fairbanks to Berle and Claire Mercer of Healy.
Rex grew up as the fifth of six children.
Rex began school at home. He attended public school in third grade at the schoolhouse in Old Healy. He graduated Tri-Valley High School in 1979. Rex was manager of the boys' varsity basketball team for two years. His home today has furniture he made in shop class.
The Healy Valley Lions Club sent Rex to the United Kingdom when he was 17 as part of its youth exchange program. He had a jolly good time.
Rex attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks from September 1980 to May 1981, then from September to December 1981, working toward a degree in elementary education. An automobile accident in January 1982 left Rex with traumatic head injuries, changing the course of his life. He spent eight months in Anchorage hospitals recuperating and relearning old skills before returning home to Healy.
Rex was gregarious. From the time he was a little boy, he was outgoing and ready to make new friends. As an adult, Rex enjoyed socializing and could frequently be found at "the Totem." Rex treasured his old friendships. He often phoned family and friends just to stay in touch. He didn't wait for a special reason to call, and he was happy to hear from others.
Visitors to his home were treated to a beverage, snack and a choice of music from his eclectic collection of LP records, 45s, cassettes and CDs. Rex loved a good joke and even appreciated poor ones. He'd get laughing so hard his shoulders would shake. When exasperated or irritated, he'd often widen his eyes, exclaiming "Yeesh!" Among his favorite foods was tongue, be it moose or beef.
Rex was a member of both the Lions and Aurora clubs.
Family was important to Rex. The recent deaths of his parents and brother strengthened his bond with other family members.
Rex's nieces and nephews were a source of joy to him. He said it made him feel old watching them grow so quickly from babies to teens and into adulthood. Their birthdays, graduations, weddings and the births of their children made him happy.
Rex was preceded in death by his parents in 2008, and by his younger brother, Howard, in 2009.
Rex is survived by his brother Baxter, sister-in-law Renee, brother Dwight, brother Kirk and partner Regina, all of Healy, and by his sister Wilma, and brother- in-law Deric Marcorelle of Sterling.
Other family members include nieces Heather Mercer, Delila Schmidt, Kaila Boone, Monica Mercer and Aubrey Marcorelle; nephews Kyle Mercer, James Ford, Erik Mercer and Brick Marcorelle; and great-nephews Brendan and Blake.
Rex was born June 20, 1961, in Fairbanks to Berle and Claire Mercer of Healy.
Rex grew up as the fifth of six children.
Rex began school at home. He attended public school in third grade at the schoolhouse in Old Healy. He graduated Tri-Valley High School in 1979. Rex was manager of the boys' varsity basketball team for two years. His home today has furniture he made in shop class.
The Healy Valley Lions Club sent Rex to the United Kingdom when he was 17 as part of its youth exchange program. He had a jolly good time.
Rex attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks from September 1980 to May 1981, then from September to December 1981, working toward a degree in elementary education. An automobile accident in January 1982 left Rex with traumatic head injuries, changing the course of his life. He spent eight months in Anchorage hospitals recuperating and relearning old skills before returning home to Healy.
Rex was gregarious. From the time he was a little boy, he was outgoing and ready to make new friends. As an adult, Rex enjoyed socializing and could frequently be found at "the Totem." Rex treasured his old friendships. He often phoned family and friends just to stay in touch. He didn't wait for a special reason to call, and he was happy to hear from others.
Visitors to his home were treated to a beverage, snack and a choice of music from his eclectic collection of LP records, 45s, cassettes and CDs. Rex loved a good joke and even appreciated poor ones. He'd get laughing so hard his shoulders would shake. When exasperated or irritated, he'd often widen his eyes, exclaiming "Yeesh!" Among his favorite foods was tongue, be it moose or beef.
Rex was a member of both the Lions and Aurora clubs.
Family was important to Rex. The recent deaths of his parents and brother strengthened his bond with other family members.
Rex's nieces and nephews were a source of joy to him. He said it made him feel old watching them grow so quickly from babies to teens and into adulthood. Their birthdays, graduations, weddings and the births of their children made him happy.
Rex was preceded in death by his parents in 2008, and by his younger brother, Howard, in 2009.
Rex is survived by his brother Baxter, sister-in-law Renee, brother Dwight, brother Kirk and partner Regina, all of Healy, and by his sister Wilma, and brother- in-law Deric Marcorelle of Sterling.
Other family members include nieces Heather Mercer, Delila Schmidt, Kaila Boone, Monica Mercer and Aubrey Marcorelle; nephews Kyle Mercer, James Ford, Erik Mercer and Brick Marcorelle; and great-nephews Brendan and Blake.
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