Mr. Leon Joseph Mercier Obituary (1936

Leon (“Lee”) Joseph Mercier, 80, passed away peacefully in Austin, Texas on May 11, 2017 following a short illness. Lee was born on September 9, 1936 to Donat and Diana Mercier, who predeceased him. One of five children, Lee grew up with brothers Armand and Robert Mercier and sister Lorraine Lyman, who have since passed. He is survived by his beloved sister Rita Boutin; son Scott Mercier and his wife Karen Pulis; daughter Wendi Mercier-Tardiff; granddaughters Olivia and Gemma Tardiff; stepsister Shirley Chicoine and her partner Ellie Morse; and many nieces and nephews. Born and raised in Attleboro, Lee attended Attleboro High School. He proudly served in the Army during the Korean War. He was employed for fifty years as a jewelry craftsman at L.G. Balfour Company. When Balfour relocated to Texas, Lee went along. He had always loved the American West, particularly its music, and over time Austin became home. Lee’s artistic skills were not limited to jewelry. As a boy, he taught himself to play the guitar by ear after listening to records repeatedly. His special love was country music, particularly Hank Snow. Lee often performed on stage, playing guitar and singing. In the course of his career, he befriended many country music luminaries. His family and friends were always spellbound when Lee picked up his guitar. His great affection for the west deepened when his daughter moved to Arizona and his granddaughters were born there. Lee made several trips to visit his family and delighted in spending time with them in Phoenix and Sedona. He was also always glad to revisit New England to see family and friends. Despite two decades in Texas, Lee remained a lifelong Red Sox fan. There was nothing he liked better than watching baseball with his son, especially at Fenway Park. When they could not attend in person, he and Scott would often plan a phone call to “watch” a game together. Lee’s family and friends will deeply miss this loving, talented, caring man. They will remember him forever with love, and gratitude for having known him. A memorial service celebrating Lee’s life will take place on Saturday June 17 at 10:00 AM at Murray Unitarian Universalist Church, 505 N Main St, Attleboro, MA. Burial will follow in St. Stephen’s Cemetery, Attleboro. In lieu of flowers, donations honoring Lee’s memory can be made to the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, PO Box 301496 Austin, TX 78703-0025, http://myhaam.org/campaign/haam-general-fund/