Raymond Grover Mercier (1915 - 1999)

Born 8 Jan 1915 in Saco, York, Maine, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Stewart (Emery) Mercier — married 5 Dec 1941 in Boston, Suffolk, MA USA

Died 28 May 1999 at age 84 in South Portland, Cumberland, Maine, United States [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Sheila Beardslee [send private message]

Biography

Birth: Raymond Grover Mercier was born 8 Jan 1915 in Saco, York County, Maine in the United States, the son of Solomon Mercier and Modeste Roy. ^{[1] [2]}

Siblings: Each was born in Saco. Their father's name is listed as Solomon Mercier who was born in Saco and working in a mill at the time of their births. Their mother's birth place is consistently listed as Fairfield, Maine. See his brother Alfred's profile under Research Notes for discrepancies concerning their Modeste Marie Mary Roy (King) Mercier name on their birth and death records.

1920 US Census, Saco, York County, Maine: Raymond and his siblings are living with their parents Solomon and "Maude" Mercier in a rented home at 108 Pleasant Street. They are all attending school. Their father is working in a cotton mill. Their mother is not working outside her home. It appear Raymond and Alfred's names and ages are inverted as Raymond is enumerated as 7 years and Alfred as 4 years. ^[3]

By 1930, the family is living in what appears to be a 2-unit dwelling at 59 James Street in Saco. The building is owned by Raymond's paternal grandparents who are living in the other unit. Mathias (Mattias), age 76, and Démérise Mercier, age 70, are neither working nor is there an unemployment schedule. Both where born in the French Area of Canada, became naturalized citizen in 1880 and 1863 respectively. They both speak French as their first language, as does Raymond's father. Raymond's father indicates he is employed by a printshop, but was not working the day before the census and he has an unemployment number. Raymond age 15 and Alfred age 17 are both attending school. Sadly, their sister passed away at the age of 11 after being unwell for over several years. ^[4]

Education: 4 years of high school. ^[5]

1940 US Census, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, Raymond (age 25) and his brother Alfred (age 27) are living in an apartment at 104 Myrtle Street. Raymond is working as a salesman in a department store, and Alfred is working as a paint salesman. The building appears to have two dwelling units. Listed as head of their household is Offin Palmer (age 37[27]) who is a bookkeeper in a book store and Carl A Abbott (age 26) working as file clerk for an automobile agency. All the men are single and listed as partners. Raymond, Alfred, and Offin were all born in Saco. Carl was born in Lewison, Maine. ^[6]

Marriage: 5 Dec 1941/2 Raymond married Elizabeth Emery in Boston, Massachusetts. She was the daughter of Ford Emery and Ethel (Stewart) Emery. Elizabeth and her father were born in Sanford, Maine; her mother was born in Lewiston, Maine. ^[7]

1950 US Census, South Portland, Maine: The couple and their children are living in a multi-unit dwelling at 450 Preble Street in Unit 33 where they have lived for at least a year. Raymond is working as a radio announcer. In the previous year, the household had $660 non-earned in income. This was equal to about 14% of his working wages. His brother Alfred's wife Katherine (Cobb) Mercier is living with her parents Danieland Jennie Cobb and her sisterPriscilla in the same building in unit 31. His brother is enumerated as married, but is residing in Boston with Offin Palmer with whom they were both living in 1940. ^[5]

Death and Burial: Raymond Grove Mercier passed away on 28 May 1999 in in South Portland, Maine. His is buried in Brooklawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Portland Maine along with his wife and two sons. ^{[2] [8]}

Photographs: Several of Ray at WMTW-TV, Channel 8; as well as portrait photo; and his memorial can be seen here. ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: "Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921"
   Film/folder: 005011837; FHL microfilm: 000010158; Image: 2728;
   FamilySearch Record: Q24N-JFVH (accessed 15 June 2024);
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RYX-2XQ; Saco, York County:
   Solomon Mercier & Modeste Roy in record for son
   Raymond Grover Mercier born on 8 Jan 1915 in
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "United States, Social Security
   Numerical Identification Files, 1936-2007"
   NUMIDENT; Film/folder number: DI0001099
   FamilySearch Record: 6KMQ-LRPN (accessed 15 June 2024)
   Father Soloman [sic] Mercier; Mother: Marie M King;
   Raymond Grover Mercier death 28 May 1999;
   previous residence South Portland, Cumberland, Maine.
   (born 8 Jan 1915; Saco, York, Maine, United States; male; white).
3. ↑ "1920 United States Census," Saco, York, Maine, ED 128;
   U.S. National Archives and Records Administration;
   Publication: T625; Film/folder: 004966028; Image: 698;
   FHL microfilm: 1820651; Packet: A; Indexing batch: N01951-4.
   FamilySearch Record: MF8H-GZC (accessed 21 June 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RFH-VBH; Sheet number: 1B; Lines: 71 - 75;
   Raymond G Mercier son in household of Solomon H Mercier.
4. ↑ "1930 United States Census," Saco, York, Maine, ED 16-343;
   U.S. National Archives and Records Administration;
   Publication: T626; Film/folder : 004950959; Image: 46;
   FHL microfilm: 2340577; Packet: A; Indexing batch: N03839-4.
   FamilySearch Record: XMDN-M8H (accessed 21 June 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R4X-VGM; Sheet: 9A; Line: 37;
   Raymond G Mercier (15), single son, in household of Soloman Mercier.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "1950 United States Census,"
   South Portland, Cumberland, Maine, ED B3-53;
   Film/folder: 108957838; Image: 5
   FamilySearch Record: 6FMG-JN6C (accessed 21 June 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QHN-PQHW-K1VC; Sheet: 4; Lines: 11 - 15, 4 - 7:
   Raymond G Mercier (35), married, head of household.
6. ↑ "1940 United States Census,"
   Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, ED 15-205;
   Publication: T627; Film/folder: 005460935; Image: 430;
   FamilySearch Record: K4JK-YXR (accessed 21 June 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89M1-QDGP; Sheet: 62B Line: 49;
   Raymond S Mercier (25), single partner, in household of Offin Palmer.
7. ↑ Marriage Announcement: “Sanford Tribune and Advocate,”
   published in Sanford, Maine 10 Dec 1942, page 2, col 6.” (https://springvale.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=%22elizabeth%20emery%22&i=f&d=01011941-12311944&m=between&ord=k1&fn=sanford_tribune_and_advocate_usa_maine_sanford_19421210_english_2&df=1&dt=10).
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Burial:
   Find A Grave: Memorial #147922261 (accessed 21 June 2024)
   Raymond Grover Mercier (8 Jan 1915-28 May 1999),
   Brooklawn Memorial Park, Portland,
   Cumberland County, Maine, USA (plot: Section H Lot 124 Grave D-1H);
   Maintained by Dale and Patti (contributor 46937639).
   Includes images of Raymond and well as memorial plaque.