Elsie Mercer, 100, of Hulett, WY died September 10, 2009 at Pioneer Manor in Gillette, WY.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 P.M., Monday, September 14, 2009 at the Hulett Civic Center with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will take place at the Alva Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been set up in Elsie's name at the Wyoming Services for the Visually Handicapped, condolences may be sent to P.O. Box 3301, Gillette, WY 82717.

She was born in Nodaway County Missouri on April 26, 1909. She attended rural schools until she went to Maryville High School in Maryville, MO. She was an excellent basketball player in a day when girls did not play basketball.

She graduated from high school and that summer met a tall, handsome Wyoming cowboy, Homer Mercer. They were married in the First Christian Church in Maryville, MO on January 1, 1926. They stayed until Homer had earned enough money, $100, to purchase their first car, a Model T Ford. They drove to Wyoming on dirt roads to Hulett where the Mercer Ranch was located. It was 50 years before either one of them was back in Missouri again.

Elsie was a hard working ranch wife. She helped raise cattle, sheep, milked cows and raised chickens. She dearly loved her flock of 25-30 peacocks. Over the years, she canned thousands of jars of garden produce, wild fruit and peaches and pears.

Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren gave her great pleasure. They were the center of her life. Until the very last she could tell you where they all were and what they were doing in their worlds.

Only when arthritis began to take her mobility and macular degeneration her vision did she consider leaving the ranch. She lived on the Mercer Ranch south of Hulett until she was 96 years old. She then lived in Pioneer Manor until her death.

She loved hearing from old friends and her family. She kept up on everyone's activities. In recent years she enjoyed the taped books and magazines provided by the Wyoming Association for the Visually Handicapped. She loved to visit and told wonderful stories.

In April of 2009 family and friends gathered with her to celebrate her 100th birthday. She enjoyed the day to the very last minute and talked about it until she passed away.

She is survived by a son, Don Mercer, daughter, Joyce Eaton, two granddaughters and a grandson, and seven great grand children, and many nieces and nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, a brother, and husband, Homer Mercer.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Roberts & Isburg Funeral Chapel in Sundance, WY.
Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com