Audrey Mercado

Audrey (Richmond) Mercado, 94, of Panama City and formerly of Romeoville, IL passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, February 12, 2026.

Born July 30, 1931, in Manchester, England, Audrey was the daughter of the late Arthur and Ethel (Steele) Richmond. She married her love, MSGT George Henry Mercado, USAF, on September 5, 1953.

It is with great honor to share Audrey's remembrance of her many talents as a mother, student, traveler, seamstress, author, artist, pianist, gardener and friend. Her most cherished memories are those of her grandchildren. She was a survivor of the Blitz by the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) and at the age of nine, she was an evacuee during WWII. During and after WWII, Audrey focused on her education. At the age of 16 she graduated High School from Harpurhey High School for Girls in Manchester, England. From her graduation until she was married, she worked in various positions and learned a strong foundation and ethics for her later career.

In 1953, she and George traveled to London to watch Queen Elizabeth's coronation. Audrey spent her lifetime traveling through Europe, Asia, Caribbean and the Americas. She embraced military life and traveled around the world while raising her young family. She later earned her LPN through the State of Louisiana, Shreveport-Bossier Vocational Technical Center in Shreveport, LA and graduated first in the State. Audrey also graduated from Illinois Benedictine College, Magna Cum Laude, in Lisle, IL with an associate degree in "The Institute for Management." She worked as a LPN at St. Joseph Hospital and for Dr. Charles Hoffman, private M.D. in Joliet, IL and Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL. Audrey also worked as a Contract Specialist for the Department of Energy at Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL until she retired in 1994. In 2022, at the age of 91, she eloquently wrote her memoir, "My Life in England." Audrey's zeal for life will continue to make impacts for generations to come.

Survivors are her five children, Gail Schwartz (Jeff), Guy Mercado (Kayoko), Gwen Martin (Jerry), Geraldine Pitts (Donald) and Glenda Mercado; grandchildren, Tommy Lopez (Kristin Menzer), Melissa Lopez (Bob Pearce), Carly Lopez Espinosa (Cavell), Kevin Mercado (Sara), Charlene Talafuse (John), Andrew Mercado (Nicolle), Michael Martin (Maggie), Paul Saylor, Jr., Christopher Saylor (Debi), Casey Hammar (fiancée, Robert Dazzo), Nathan Hammar (Sarah), Douglas Goulding (Tera), Matthew Bumber (Michelle) and Anthony Bumber (Vutha Eang).

Finally, her memory and legacy will live on through her 30 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren, as well as her future generations and numerous nieces and nephews.

Audrey was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, MSGT George Henry Mercado, USAF; parents, Arthur and Ethel Richmond; brother, William Richmond; sister, Majorie Gillings; grandsons, Brian Matthew Lopez and Steven Guy Martin; and great-grandson, Jeffery Casey Hammer-Salwaikowski.

Cremation rites have been accorded, and a private family interment will be held in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood at a later date.