Billy Joe Mercer

Billy Joe Mercer AKA “Bones”, 64, of Waco, Texas passed away on Thursday, August 7th at Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Hospital in Waco, Texas surrounded by his loving family.

Billy Joe was born on February 13, 1961 in Waco, Texas to Billy Fred and Patsy Ray Mercer. While having a passion for gardening and piddling around the yard, he also had a huge love for Auto Racing and spent many nights over the years getting the cars “race ready”. He couldn’t wait to get home on Friday nights to leave for the track. He even won a Mechanic’s Race at the HOT Speedway in 2010 and always cherished that memory. He had a fierce love for Nascar, specifically Tony Stewart. He was a huge Tony Stewart fan and when the opportunity came for him to meet his idol, he couldn’t even speak which led to a lot of teasing afterwards.

He always loved what he did throughout his working career and took pride in every job he held. He spent many years working for his uncles in the concrete business. Later he went to work for Pledger Construction where he was a superintendent. When Pledger closed, he decided to embark on a different career and went to work for the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office as a jailer, always staying on the “right side” of the bars. His final years were spent with the City of Waco Parks & Recreation Department on the River Crew. He absolutely loved this job but was counting down the days to his pending retirement on April 30th of next year.

Quite possibly the best thing he did in his lifetime was to marry his bride Jennifer Hall in 1987 (she wrote this by the way). They were married for 38 years and he was very proud of that accomplishment. Although they had no children, they raised 5 furry daughters together: Faschtie, Tiffy, and Harley who preceded him in death and Macy and April who are left to cherish his memory.

Although his life was cut short by most standards, he lived his life to the fullest and definitely on his own terms.

Billy was preceded in death by his beloved mother and father; niece, Sonja; mother-in-law, Sara Henderson; and father-in-law, Alton Hall. He is survived by his loving wife, Jennifer; furry daughters, Macy and April; beloved brother, Bobby Gene Mercer (Pat); and beloved sister, Beverly Fisher (Gary). Also surviving him are his mother-in-law, Treva Hall; father-in-law, Gordon Henderson; sister-in-law, Teri Hall; brothers-in-law, David Hall, Jeffrey Henderson, Chris Henderson (Natasha); and special cousin, Audrey Hovers. In addition, he is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews (some on the way) and several cousins.

Those special to his heart who will carry him to his final resting place are friends, Ben Cobb and Greg Hudson and nephews Bobby Mercer, Jr., Curtis Patterson, II., Patrick Patterson, and Nolan Pick.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the doctors and wonderful nursing staff in the surgical ICU at Baylor Scott & White for the outstanding care and compassion administered to Billy and all of our family during his stay.