Clara Olive Mercer

Clara Olive Mercer, 93, of Marietta left this earth to meet her Lord at 8:00 pm on Monday, February 13, 2012, at Marietta Center.  She was born on June 29, 1918, at Newport to George and Mary Carpenter Bayless.  Clara had been employed at the Westview Pottery.  She was a Methodist by faith and enjoyed her flowers, birds and her yard.

On June 16, 1947, she married Sumner “Sam” Mercer who preceded her in death on July 12, 2010.  Clara is survived by 1 son and 1 daughter, Charlotte Connolly and Marvin (Shelby) Hanes; grandchildren:  Mark (Kelly) Connolly, Tim (Zoe) Connolly, Teresa (Fred) Stone, Sandra Briesemister and her friend Jim Weeks, Marvin Hanes, Jr., Pamela (Bob) Kirland, Debby Patterson and several great grandchildren.  She is also survived by 2 brothers, Richard (Shirley) Bayless of Circleville and Leonard Bayless of Newport; and 3 sisters:  Edith Luke and Mildren Mayo both of North Canton and Audrey Andrews of Souderton, PA, sister-in-law Betty Bayless of St. Marys, WV.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Shirley A. Binegar Nameth, brothers: Robert, George, Kenneth and sisters:  Bertha Fere, Mary Hane and Helen Lamitina.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday (Feb. 16) at McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home with Pastor Gale Lauderman officiating.  Burial will follow in Brabham Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home after 2:00 pm on Wednesday with family present from 2-4 & 6-8.