Michael Reed Mercy M.D.

1965 - 2015

Michael Reed Mercy, M.D.
1965 ~ 2015
Michael Reed Mercy passed away in the early morning of May 13, 2015, taking our hearts with him. Michael Reed and twin sister, Leanne Gail Mercy, were born in the early morning of August 30, 1965 at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland to Leland Mercy, Jr., and Gail McClellan Mercy. The Mercy family was stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base in June of 1966 and is still in Idaho. Mike and Leanne were enrollees in the early years of Head Start while their father attended Boise State College and their mother supported the family. They attended Mountain View Grade School, Maple Grove, South Junior High and graduated from Borah High in 1983.
Mike married Debra Green Mercy in April 1996; they were blessed with triplets: Paige, Blake and Cameron on November 25, 2000. Mike and Deb had the opportunity to hold and love baby Cameron before he passed after just two hours. Paige and Blake are carrying on the tradition of girl and boy Mercy twins. Mike and Deb were divorced in 2006.
Mike lived life to the max: he worked hard, played hard and loved his friends and family well. He had many passions including a love of music, particularly jazz and Rhythm and Blues, which he inherited from his father. Some of Mike's favorite pastime were bicycle racing, skiing, SCUBA diving, fencing and traveling. He was most passionate about biking; he rode recreationally and competitively; his favorite race was the LP 200 from Boise to Sun Valley.
Mike joined PacificSource in July of 2013 as Medical Director for Idaho and Montana. Prior to joining PacificSource, Dr. Mercy served as the Chief Medical Officer for Initiatives Healthcare, and worked as an attending physician at three Idaho medical centers. Dr. Mercy received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Reed College in Portland, OR., an M.B.A. from Boise State University, and his M.D. from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Mike is a board certified Emergency Physician, a founding member of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine, and served on the Boards of Reed College and the Lewis & Clark District of the American Red Cross.
On June 28, 2014, Mike and his sweetheart, Heather Hollenbeck Youngwerth, married, unifying their hearts and blended families. Tragically, it was on their honeymoon that Mike began displaying symptoms of the germ cell cancer that took his life. Throughout Mike's many hospitalizations and his recuperations at home, Heather never left his side. Their love and devotion was an example of what marriage could and should be.
Mike was preceded in death by his father, Leland Mercy, Jr.; infant son, Cameron; grandfather, Reed H. McClellan; grandfather, Leland Mercy, Sr.; and grandmother, Madeline Mercy. He is survived by his wife, Heather; children, Paige and Blake; step-children, Abigail, Andrew and Alexander Youngwerth; mother, Gail McClellan (Bob Parker); sister, Leanne Mercy Felzien (Tom); nephew, Kyle Felzien; nieces, MacKenzie, Tara, Alyssa and Maddie Felzien; several step-nieces and nephews; his grandmother, Dorothy W. McClellan; in-laws, Kathy and J. C. Worthen, Karen and Warren Hollenbeck; and stepbrothers and sisters residing in Boise and New Orleans.
Mike's life will be celebrated with an Open House, Sunday, May 24 from 2:00 – 5:30 p.m., at MeadowLake Village, 4037 E. Clocktower Lane, Meridian, ID 83642-7848. Park in lots at 3525 Louise Dr., Meridian: shuttle service will be provided. If you wish, bring a bottle of your favorite wine to share. You can donate in Mike's memory to the Mike Mercy Time Trial Bike Race or the Mike Mercy BSU Scholarship Fund at any Key Bank or website https://www.key.com.