Joseph Wade Mercer, 78, of Harrisonville, MO went to be with his Lord on December 24, 2009 at the Cass Regional Medical Center in Harrisonville, MO. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Harrisonville. A visitation will be held 10:00-11:00 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Burial will be in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Harrisonville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, 22500 E. 299th Street, Harrisonville, MO 64701.

Joe was born January 1, 1931 in Ray County, MO, the son of George and Mildred (Orr) Mercer. He was a graduate of Stet High School in Ray County, MO. He was an army veteran, serving during the Korean War. On February 27, 1954 he was united in marriage to N. Frances Holiman in Kansas City, MO. He was a truck driver for Graves Truck Line in Kansas City, KS for 34 years. He also drove for Reserve-A-Ride for 16 years.

Joe was a member and former Steward of Local #498 Teamsters Union. He was an active member and Sunday School teacher at the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church in Harrisonville. Joe loved to garden and torment and tease his friends and family.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Kirk Mercer in 1998, four brothers and one sister. He is survived by his wife, Fran of the home; one son, Jerry Dean and his wife, Lynn Mercer of San Antonio, TX; step-mother, Mary Mercer of Richmond, MO; one sister, Mary Brock of Shawnee Mission, KS; daughter-in-law, Donna Mercer of Tulsa, OK; former daughter-in-law, Vicki Mercer of Sands Springs, OK; four grandchildren, Amanda Mercer, Kristina and her husband Randy Varney, Nicholas and Shawn Mercer and two great-grandsons, Isaiah and Peyton.