Parker County Today June 2017 | Page 105

George Lee Mercer 1961-2017 George Lee Mercer, 56, a loving husband and father, philanthropist and businessman, died Thursday, May 18, 2017, after a short, but courageous battle with cancer. George was the second youngest child of Tommy George Mercer and Jo McNeil Mercer, in a family of eight, and was raised in the historic Rivercrest area of Fort Worth. George graduated from Fort Worth Country Day School making many lifelong friends while lettering in track, basketball and football. After high school, George attended UT Austin, where he pledged Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and he later transferred to Arizona State. During these times, George helped his father in his many businesses learning and honing a sharp business mind. In 1993, during a tough economic recession, George took over the small family pipeline company, TG Mercer, and grew it into the largest pipeline logistics company in North America, with hundreds of employees and locations worldwide. He enjoyed working in the business with other family members, including brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces and their spouses. Family life was as important to George as his business, and he spent many hours traveling and vacationing with the love of his life, Amy, and his four children, Vincent, Chelsea, Macy and Tommie. They enjoyed many happy times at their VCMT Ranch in Cisco, Texas, at the family’s River Cabin in Horatio, Ark., and at their mountain home in Colorado Springs, Colo. George was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing excursions in Alaska, Mexico, Argentina and Costa Rica as well as at the family ranch. He enjoyed golf with his wife, Amy, and also loved to watch his children participate in sporting and school activities. Whether it was political sparring with Chelsea or her endeavor in brewing beer in Colorado or his time watching his beloved son, Vincent, swinging for the fences in Miracle League baseball, Macy cheerleading or pitching for her high school softball team or Tommie receiving academic awards for singing, you could find George there, encouraging them to excel. George was also an avid supporter of the Aledo High School Sports programs and could often be seen on the sidelines with his son, Vincent, at Aledo football games. George was a very generous man and believed in sharing the fruits of his success with friends, family and numerous charities. He donated the land and monetary resources in founding Miracle League of Parker County, a baseball league for special needs children and young adults, because George believed “Everyone should have the chance to play a game of baseball.” He and Amy generously support the Freedom House in Weatherford, the Parker County Health Foundation and numerous other area charities. George will be remembered for his generosity, his keen business acumen and his love for a good bottle of wine. The family would like to especially thank LeAnna Gieger and the Mercer staff for all they have done to take care of our brother and his family. George was preceded in death by his father, Tommy George Mercer; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. George Edwin Mercer, and Mr. and Mrs. Chris McNeil. Survivors: Wife, Amy; daughters, Chelsea, Macy, and Tommie; son, Vincent; mother, Jo McNeil Mercer; sisters, Sharon Chisholm and husband, Dan, of Fort Worth, Christia Mercer of New York City, and John and Marty Copeland of Argyle, Texas; brothers, Tommy George Mercer Jr. of Arlington, Texas, Mack Mercer and wife, Patty of Trophy Club, Texas, Richard Lovelace of Paris, France, and Dude Lovelace and wife, Renee, of Billings, Mont.; and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.