Leola Marie Bordelon Ellis Mercer

Leola Marie Bordelon Ellis Mercer

BORN SEPTEMBER 21, 1912 near Moreuville in Avollyes Parish, Louisiana. DIED FEBRUARY 16, 2003 in Bakersfield, California.

Leola Marie Bordelon Ellis Mercer: Graveside services are scheduled at 2 p.m., Saturday, February 22, 2003 at Hillcrest Memorial Park, Kern Canyon Road for Leola and will be officiated by Father Titus of St. Josephs Church. Viewing is Wednesday and Thursday at Hillcrest, 4-8 p.m.

At the time of the services, the family requests voluntary small mementos photos, letters, etc. that may be placed as part of a time capsule commemorating her life and times. It is also requested that her friends and family share a small memory with us at the services.

Leola was of French descent and was the oldest of eight children of Henrietta Mayeau and Wilbur Pierre Bordelon. Her sisters Grace, Marie, and Cecilia and brothers, Leo and Paul predeceased her. Her sister Mabel and brother John survive her and live in Avollyes Parish in Central Louisiana as well as her many beloved nieces and nephews. Just recently, she was very proud to learn that her nephew, John Bordelon, Jr. and Air Force Fighter Pilot earned the rank of Brigadier General.

Leola was married to John Louis Ellis from New Oreleans, Louisiana in 1931 until his death in 1964. On January 1, 1946 they came to Bakersfield where John worked at the round house at Santa Fe. In 1968 she married Azle Porter Mercer (Pete) and spent 27 happy years with him until his death in 1996. Both husbands loved her very dearly. Some of the happiest days Leola Ellis had was working with new born babies in Kern General Hospital for 25 years and loved every minute of her job. She met and married Pete Mercer at Kern General Hospital where he was the engineer.

Leola was the mother of Ronald John Ellis (wife Gloria) of Fresno and Kathleen Ellis Faulkner (husband James) of Bakersfield, and the grandmother of Terri Ellis Cranford, Ronald Walter Ellis, Tanya Faulkner Safford, John Ellis Faulkner, Kenneth J. Ellis, Matthew James Faulkner. She was great-grandmother of David Trudrung, Marie Singleton, Sean James Safford, Jeremy John Safford, KaSandra Faulkner, Katelyn Faulkner; great-great-grandmother to Elizabeth and Samantha Singleton and Keaton Ellis.