Joyce Diane (Hawkins) Gartrell Mercer, age 85 of Salem, passed away on Monday, November 11, 2019 at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon.
Joyce was born on September 10, 1934 in Divide, Illinois, to Kelly and Lois (Barker) Hawkins. She married Orland Gartrell and he preceded her in death, she later married William “Bill” Mercer and he survives in Salem.
Survivors include her husband Bill Mercer of Salem; one daughter, Cheryl Girton and husband Brent of Centerville, IN; two sons, Brett Gartrell and special friend Beverly Smith of Centerville, IN, and Mark Gartrell of Milton, IN; two stepsons, Greg Mercer and wife Christy of Centralia and Mark Mercer of Salem; two step-daughters, Vicki Mercer of Garden City, Utah; and Michelle Mercer Lynn and husband Scott of DuQuoin; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; five stepgrandchildren; two brothers, Ronald Hawkins and wife Wilma of Centralia and Norman Hawkins and wife Mary Lois of Salem; two sisters-in-law, JoAnn Tiernon of Fort Wayne, IN and Delia Hays of Richmond, IN; along with a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Orland Gartrell; an infant sister, Linda Kay; one niece and two great nieces.
Joyce attended Kell school and was a graduate of the Class of 1952 at Salem Community High School. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Salem. She worked as a salesperson from 1952-1957 at Woolworths dime store in Centralia. Later in life she worked for several years at her dear friends, Rudy and Marilyn Meridas car dealership in Indiana.
Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, November 14, 2019 at Grace United Methodist Church in Salem, Illinois at 5:00 pm with Pastor Lori Harvey officiating. Visitation will be from 3:00 pm until 5:00 pm at the church. Her wishes were to be cremated and have a private burial at a later date in the Zion Grove (County Line) Cemetery in Kell.
Memorials can be made to Grace United Methodist Church or the Zion Grove Cemetery and can be received at Rogers-Atkins Funeral Home who is in charge of arrangements. Online obituary information can be found at RogersAtkinsFuneralHome.com