Bobby R. Mercer

Bobby Ray Mercer

November 3rd, 1939-October 21st, 2026

Bobby Ray “Pappy or Asshole” was born on November 3rd, 1939, to Ollie Margret Ford and Eddie Ray Mercer in Bowling Green, Kentucky. A fact he was extremely proud of. At 70 he even got a tattoo of the University of Kentucky logo.

What most people immediately saw about him was what piercing blue eyes he had. Eyes that I’m sure hooked his bride Carolyn June Mercer at a local burger spot.

Bobby and June, as we all knew, were married September 2nd, 1961, when he was 21 and she was 20. They had 65 wild and beautiful years together.

Together they celebrated and cherished two daughters Melissa (Ed) Zehnder and Melinda (Donnie) Roe, one granddaughter Faith (and Jordan) Johns, and two great- grandchildren they absolutely adored Azalea June and August Ray Johns both given names to honor their great-grandparents.

He’s always been extremely proud of his brother Jeff (Melissa) of Kentucky. He also had many animals he loved so very much but we believe Cheyenne was his soul dog.

Bobby wasn’t just a good dad,” pappy” and great grandfather, he was a light everywhere he went. He would strike up a conversation with anyone and have them laughing their heads off before he left. He always showed up for his family, no matter what he had going on he was there beaming with pride.

He spent his last years caring for his wife and fought hard to have all the time he could with her. He will be dearly missed, and life will be a little less funny without him.

I’m sure he will be greeted with open arms by his beloved grandfather William Hall Ford, mother Ollie Margret Ford, brother Billy Ford and sisters-in-law Linda Sue and Faye.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, from 12pm-2pm at Hendersonville Funeral Home. A funeral service will begin at 2pm followed with burial at Hendersonville Memory Gardens.