Mr. Stanley Oliver Mertz

Mr. Stanley Oliver Mertz, 75, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer, Thursday, July 14, 2022, at the Duke Hock Family Pavilion in Durham, NC with his family by his side.

Funeral services with Masonic Rites will be held Sunday, July 17, at 3:00PM at Royal-Hall Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Clarence Page officiating.  The family will receive friends following the service at the funeral home. A funeral service will be held in Des Pere, Missouri later in the week. Burial will follow at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery.

Born in St. Louis County, Missouri  in 1946 Stan was the son of the late Norman Robert and Mildred Laura Schrimper Mertz.  As the youngest of five siblings, he helped his father on the farm and at work, driving up and down Conway Road by the time he was nine.  He was close with his nieces and nephews who found “Uncle Stan” to be more of an older brother.  Stan was fiercely protective of his family, and a doting father with the births of each of his daughters.

As an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, Stan was grateful to his brothers for convincing his mother to name him after Stan “The Man” Musial.  Stan enjoyed watching the Cardinals in each Busch Stadium and planning traveling with Kathy around watching away games, farm team games, and spring training. Stan also cheered on the St. Louis Rams and St. Louis Blues during baseball’s offseason.

After marrying Kathy, Stan became interested to start his Masonic journey by witnessing his new father-in-law’s service.  He joined the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Memphis and worked to earn his 32nd degree and membership as a Sudan Shriner.  This cultivated his desire to contribute to the community and to his churches’ ministries wherever he lived.

Stan worked for over thirty years in the rendering industry, ultimately settling in Clinton, NC. In his retirement, Stan stayed out of Kathy’s hair by participating in a variety of community organizations and services. He built handicap ramps as a ministry for Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church, answering calls to help with other projects too.  Stan served as a member of the Coastal Carolina Presbytery Central Community.  He participated in Rotary Club and Lions Club activities.  Stan was very involved with building Habitat homes in Sampson County and in Fayetteville.  In addition to hands on work, Stan served on the board of the Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity.  He was able to reconnect with his work with the Masons as part of the Hiram Lodge and recently served as President of the Sampson County Shrine Club.

Stan is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Kathleen Anne Brave Mertz; four daughters: Kristen Dawn Mertz of St. Louis, MO., Stacy Erin Hostetler (Adam) of Bentonville, AR., Meredith Michelle Graham (Robert) of St. Louis, MO, and Aneda Kathleen Jackson of Raleigh, NC; sister, Mildred Adaline Eleanor Weber of Fenton, MO.; seven grandchildren: Michael, Amanda, Kavan, Teddy, Luke, Colt and Ace; and three great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Stan was preceded in death by his three brothers: Kenneth, Robert, and Kurt Mertz.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Habitat of Fayetteville either online www.fayettevillenchabitat.org or by mail: 3833 Bragg Blvd, Fayetteville, NC  28303; and/or Shriners Hospital of Greenville, SC.

Royal-Hall is honored to serve the Mertz family.

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