Harry Dennis Mercer

Harry D. Mercer, 83, died peacefully in Shaker Heights, Ohio on September 10, 2025. Family members and Miracle City Hospice staff were a constant presence at his bedside during Harry's last days, offering up music, prayers and memories.

Born in Coos Bay, Oregon, on July 31, 1942 to Gemma and Harry J. Mercer. Harry and his parents soon moved to Seattle, so Harry J. could serve in the Navy during World War II. After the war, the family settled in Missoula, the longtime hometown of Gemma and Harry's extended families. Harry spent memorable hours with his grandparents, enjoyed camaraderie with siblings Patrick, Valerie, and John, and learned to swim, boat, fish, hunt and ride. Most of all, young Harry began what became his lifelong passion for books, words and ideas.

Attending both parochial and public schools, Harry graduated as an honor student from Missoula County High School in 1960. He reported for the Konah (school newspaper), wrote poetry, joined the Scroll and Quill, wrestled, fundraised for the March of Dimes, ran lighting for student dramatic productions and worked part-time in the family's tourist businesses. He also served as a professional reporter, covering high school sports for the Missoula daily paper.

Earning a full scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania for undergraduate and ultimately law school as well, Harry took the train from Missoula to Philadelphia many times. He pledged Theta Xi, majored in English and determined that law school would be his path. Many letters kept him in close family connection, including with new baby sister, Donna, born in 1963. Harry, Donna and the Mercer siblings shared a special love for the times spent on Lake Ines at a family cabin and, later, together at John's property near Condon, in Montana's Swan Valley.

The day that Harry met Helen, a red-headed fellow Penn student with an English degree and a shared love of reading and conversation, he reported back to his roommate that he'd met the woman he would marry. Soon, the feeling was mutual. The couple married in March, 1966 and after Harry's 1967 law school graduation, moved to Cleveland, Ohio, so Harry could join the firm of Hahn Loeser. He would become a respected expert in equipment leasing and corporate law, a partner and a leader in key Cleveland Bar Association business law initiatives.

Raising daughters Beth and Joanna in Shaker Heights, Helen and Harry filled family times with books, nature, art, games and lots of road trips, to explore sites and to visit family on both the west and east coast.

He is survived by wife, Helen, daughters Beth Mercer-Taylor (Peter) and Joanna Greenwalt (Chuck), and siblings Patrick (Marie), Valerie Herschede (Dean) and John (Colleen Harrington), Donna Carrillo (Carlos), and by grandchildren Andrew (Connie), Robin (Anna), and David, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. He is predeceased by parents Gemma and Harry J.

The family prefers that those who wish may make contributions in his name to Miracle City Hospice, 9150 South Hills Blvd., Suite 100, Broadview Hts., OH 44147; The Alzheimer's Association, 23215 Commerce Park, Suite 300, Beachwood, OH 44122 or Plymouth Church of Shaker Heights, 2860 Coventry Rd., 44120.

Funeral Services will be held Sunday, September 28th at 3pm in Plymouth Church of Shaker Heights,  with the service being livestreamed via YouTube.com/plymouthchurchucc or Plymouthchurchucc.org/livestream.