Ervin and Lola RUSCO MERCER moved to the Maloy vicinity around 1941.

They were married June 8, 1921 at Grant City, Missouri. They had eleven children, all are still living except three.

Ervin passed away May 18, 1960 and Lola died Nov. 1, 1982.

Ervin, R.C. and Marvin served in the Army. [Ervin served with Company G, 118th Infantry, WWI; R.C. served with Battery C, 39th Anti-Aircraft Artillery; and Marvin served with the 52nd Artillery, Artillery Headquarters.]

Eugene graduated from Redding High School in 1957. Marvin also graduated from Redding in 1958. Howard H. graduated from Mount Ayr High School in 1963. Five of the children still live in Iowa. Goldie is the only desdendant who still resides in Maloy.

NOTES: Ervin B. MERCER, son of John W. and Catherine MERCER, was born October 22, 1896 in Missouri, and died May 18, 1960. He served as a PFC with Company G, 118th Missouri Infantry during World War I. Lola Judy (RUSCO) MERCER, daughter of Alfred and Arminta Ann "Minnie" (CORDELL) RUSCO, was born November 30, 1900, and died at the age of 81 years November 1, 1982. They were interred at Athelstan Cemetery, Athelstan, Iowa.

Albert LeRoy MERCER, son of John W. and Catherine MERCER, was born in Kansas December 25, 1894, and died near Blockton June 15, 1952. He married Ona Dell Hazel HIATT on Junary 24, 1916. Ona Dell Hazel (HIATT) MERCER, the daughter of George and Mollie (TACKETT) HIATT, was born in Oklahoma September 4, 1902, and died at the age of 97 years January 15, 2000. They were interred at Platteville Cemetery, Blockton, Iowa.

Edna May MERCER, daughter of Orie and Bessie (CURRY) MERCER, was born July 12, 1909 and died at the age of 19 years September 11, 1928. She was interred at Clearfield Cemetery.

Catherine Minnie MERCER, Ervin and Lola's daughter, was born circa 1924 in Iowa.

Ray Wilber MERCER was born February 19, 1926, and died in September of 1999. He married Phyllis June MINNICK at Grant City, Missouri on April 27, 1946. Phyllis died January 18, 1996. Elvin Leroy MERCER, son of Ray Wilber and Phyllis June (MINNICK) MERCER, was born in Maloy August 4, 1946, and died as a result of a car-train collision November 9, 1975, Denver, Colorado. They were interred at Athelstan Cemetery.

Raymond LeRoy MERCER was born June 29, 1921, and died at the age of 5 years on May 27, 1927. Interment was made a Athelstan Cemetery, Athelstan, Iowa.

Ralph James MERCER died at the age of seven years on June 29, 1935. Interment was at Athelstan Cemetery, Athelstan.

Steven Laverne MERCER, son of R.C. and Virginia MERCER, died June 9, 1950 and was interred at Athelstan Cemetery.

Howard came to Maloy in September 1949 to work at Marycrest Farms for John D. WARIN. Goldie MERCER and Howard were married March 23, 1952 and had two children, DeWaine Howard and Ronald M. Ronald died at birth January 16, 1957. DeWaine was born December 15, 1953 and graduated from Mount Ayr High School in 1972. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Iowa State University in Ames in 1976 and a Master's Degree from Michigan State University in 1979. In 1986 he was awarded a Doctorate at Colorado State. He married Laura SPESS on December 29, 1979. She has a Bachelor's Degree from Michigan State (1979) and a Master's Degree from Colorado State (1985). They now live in Madrid and both work for the State of Iowa. Laura is an urban biologist and DeWaine is a forestry science research biologist working with the white-tail deer. DeWaine appeared on a TV movie with Marlin PERKINS in which they featured the habits and characteristics of the bobcat.

Howard and Goldie remain in their home in Maloy which they built after they purchased the property of Clyde COWELL.

NOTE: Goldie Marie (MERCER) JACKSON was born May 23, 1932 and died January 23, 1996. Howard Sidney Jackson died in 1997. Ronald JACKSON died January 16, 1957. Interments were made at Athelstan Cemetery.

  SOURCE: Maloy, Iowa Centennial History: 1887 - 1987 p. 151.

Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library

Transcription and Note by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2011