Former Tribal Council member Robert J. "Bob" Mercier walks on

Robert Joseph “Bob” Mercier, who served two terms on Tribal Council from 1989-92 and 1997 to 2000, walked on Sunday, Sept. 23, at the age of 75 in Willamina.

Mercier was born July 14, 1943, to Joe and Blandine Mercier and lived his entire life in the Grand Ronde and Willamina area.

Besides serving on Tribal Council, he served the Tribe on the Spirit Mountain Development Board of Directors and Spirit Mountain Gaming Inc. Board of Directors, and was a longtime member of the Tribe’s Timber Committee.

During his first term on Tribal Council, Mercier worked with fellow Tribal Council members to plan and construct the Tribe’s Health & Wellness Center, as well as establish endowment funds for health, housing and education.

Mercier spent most of his life in the timber industry, working for Taylor Lumber and Siletz Trucking Co. before becoming self-employed and running his own contract log hauling business, Bob Mercier Trucking, since 1985.

He ran for Tribal Council seven times, being elected in 1989 and 1997. His last run occurred in 2003, when he finished ninth in a field of 15 candidates.

“I believe there will be many changes and challenges in the future for our Tribe,” he said in his 2003 candidate statement. “We need to keep doing the things we feel are necessary and important, but we must always be looking at the things we can do better, too. Two the areas we must continue to direct our attention to are Elders and children.”

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Gayle Mercier; daughter, Tresa Mercier; grandchildren, Ali, Keiffer and Zoey Holsclaw; and great-grandchildren, Aurora, Austin, Red Sky, Laila, Jack and Kailiyah, all residing in the Willamina and Sheridan area.

A celebration of life, arranged by Dallas Mortuary Tribute Center, is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, in the Tribal gym followed by a meal in the Elders Activity Center, 48940 Blacktail Drive. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Diabetes Foundation.