Beatrice “Bea” Marie Mercer

Beatrice “Bea” Marie Mercer 

1943-2023 

Beatrice “Bea” Marie Mercer, 80, of Peralta, passed away on Dec. 26, 2023, after a long battle with metastatic breast cancer. She passed away peacefully in her home.  

Bea was born on Nov. 8, 1943, to Jim Roscoe Standefer and Marie Franssen Standefer in Englewood, Colo. After graduating from South High School in 1961 in Denver, Colo., she attended Colorado State University.  

She met her husband of 60 years, Jerry Wayne Mercer, while attending college there, and the couple were married on Sept. 8, 1963. They soon started a family, having three children, Crystal, Cindy and Randy. Bea felt especially blessed with her special needs son, Randy, whom she dedicated her life to caring for and making sure that he had all of the same opportunities as her other children.  

Bea was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, providing love, support and nurturing to the entire family. Bea was a true farm girl who was dedicated to her health and fitness, exercising five days a week until her health took a turn.  

She was an avid gardener and loved reading novels. She spent 40 years teaching children in Bible class and was also a co-leader of the church puppet program for children.  

She was active in supporting Randy in Special Olympics and served as an assistant coach when needed and as a zealous cheerleader. She did not know a challenge she was not willing to take on and never sacrificed her fighting spirit.  

Bea was predeceased by her parents, Jim and Marie Standefer; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Charlie and “Sis” Mercer; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Robert and Gayle Mercer; and her son-in-law, Charles Phelps.  

She is survived by her husband, Jerry Mercer; her daughter, Crystal Phelps; her daughter, Cindy Mercer; her son, Randy Mercer; her sister, Marilynn Thoming and husband, Earl; and her sister, Barbara Standefer. She is also survived by her grandson, Nicholas Phelps and fiancé, Jenn Padilla; her granddaughter, Samantha Phelps and partner, Adrian Aranda; with her great-grandchildren, Alec, Brooklynn, Kyler and baby Aranda; and her grandson, Brandon Phelps and partner, Tyra Wood-Manygoats; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  

There will be a memorial service and celebration of Bea’s life at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Church of Christ, 1635 Bosque Farms Blvd., Bosque Farms. The memorial service will be streamed live on Zoom for those who cannot attend in person. Contact the family at 505-379-7645 for the Zoom meeting details.  

You can access Daniel’s Family Funeral & Cremation Services obituary website regarding memorial donations and gifts.