Priscilla Louise Mercer
Born on September 21 1943 in Salem, MassachusettsDeparted on July 22, 2025 in Palm Bay, Florida
Priscilla Louise Mercer, age 81, of Palm Bay, Florida, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2025, surrounded by her family. A devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and cherished friend to many. Priscilla’s life was marked by kindness and a heart that was always open to others.
Born on September 21, 1943, in Salem, Massachusetts, Priscilla was the beloved daughter of the late Wayne Andrews and Anna Stone. She carried her New England roots with pride, but built a life filled with love and purpose in Florida, where she met and married Herbert T. Mercer of Gloucester, MA, on December 11, 1975. Together, they created a life and home until Herb’s passing in 1998, and she now joins him in eternal rest.
Priscilla’s career reflected her intelligence, compassion, and dedication to service. She served as the Office Manager at Ferguson & Ferguson accounting firm in Homestead, FL from 1984 to 1993. In an inspiring pursuit of lifelong learning, she earned her B.A. in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida in 2002 at the age of 59. She later worked for the Veteran’s Administration, retiring in 2012 after helping those who served our country.
Her commitment to community and character development was evident through her leadership with the International Order of the Rainbow Girls, where she last served as Director of Grand Representatives. Through this work, Priscilla mentored countless young women, instilling in them values of service, responsibility, and sisterhood. She was also a beloved member of the Order of Eastern Star.
Priscilla found joy in life’s simple pleasures: dining out, hunting for a great bargain, and playing dominoes with her dear friends. Her happiest moments were those spent in the company of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whose lives she touched with her generosity.
She is survived by her loving children: Christine Tyrrell and her husband Stan, Pamela DeKalb and her husband David, Lindy Mercer and his wife Jessica, and Sean Mercer. She leaves behind six adoring grandchildren: Kailyn Vance, Amanda Ungaro, Michael Tyrrell, Liam Valdes, Taylor DeKalb, and Conner DeKalb; as well as three precious grandchildren, Gavin Mercer, Madelyn Mercer, Jackson Mercer-Hegadorn and her great-granddaughter, Isla Vance. Her legacy lives on in them and in the many lives she uplifted.
Priscilla will be remembered for her compassion, especially in caring for the seniors in her church and the stray cats in her neighborhood. She was a tireless advocate and consistent source of strength and love who made the world around her better simply by being in it.
A visitation and celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, July 26 at 1:00 PM at Brownlie-Maxwell Funeral Home. Priscilla will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Herb, at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.
In honor of Priscilla, the family asks that you remember her by performing a small act of kindness, whether it’s helping someone in need, feeding a stray animal, or simply offering a warm smile. That is how she lived her life, and that is how she would want to be remembered.
