Don Allen Mertz

© Trout Funeral Home

Submitted by: Sharon

Don Allen Mertz
August 26, 1926 - February 20, 2014

Don Allen Mertz, resident of Ponca City, OK, passed away February 20, 2014. He was 87. Memorial services will be held 2:00 pm, Monday, February 24, 2014 at the First Baptist Church, with Pastor Andy Taylor officiating. Viewing is available at Trout Funeral Home.

Don was born on August 26, 1926 to Jack and Hattie Mertz in Ponca City, OK. He married the girl of his dreams, Vivian Kendall, on June 30, 1948 in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. They celebrated 65 years of marriage and working together last June. On the inside of Don's wedding ring, before he & Vivian married, he had the words "We'll Make It" engraved. They did. Don was a family man, generous, humble, honest, happy, kind, fun-loving, man of integrity. He loved his family unconditionally. Family to him extended outside of blood and marriage. If he could help you he would, even till the very end. He was a servant leader with a strong faith in Jesus Christ. He leaned heavily on the Word of God to guide his life. To know Don was to get a glimpse of Christ. Don always looked for ways to help & build up others, to act as Christ did.

In 1948 Don and his brother Forrest purchased their grandfather's machine shop of three employees. Mertz, Inc. grew to over 450 employees and became internationally recognized as the leader in its field; the production of oil exploration vibroseis vehicles. As President of Mertz, Inc. he loved and appreciated each of his employees and treated them like family. Honesty, Quality, Skilled/Great Employees, & Standing behind the work Mertz produced, was what Don valued and took pride in and credited to the success & the development of Mertz Inc. Don, Vivian, & Forrest worked side by side from 1948 until Mertz Inc. was sold in 1996. Don also enjoyed farming and ranching & at one time had a herd of over 800 Black Angus cattle. After the sale of Mertz, Don continued metal work at the original location, building, repairing, improving things and raising cattle.

During WWII Don joined the Army Air Force and was training to become a tail-gunner. When the German's heard of Don's upcoming entry into the war, they quickly surrendered.

Don served as a Life Member of the American Legion, a member of Gideon's International, and as a member of various boards including Oklahoma Blue Cross & Blue Shield, Pioneer Area Vo-Tech, First National Bank, World Bank, the National Fertilizer & Solutions Board, and served on the Advisory Board of the Export-Import Bank of the United States. He also served on the Educational Advisory Board of the State of Oklahoma, was Vice President of the International Association of Geophysical Contractors, and served as a mentor for troubled youth. Don was an active member in the First Baptist Church, supportive in bringing Young Life to Ponca City, and in the construction of Young Life's camp, Clearwater Cove near Branson Missouri.

Survivors include his wife Vivian; daughter, Marilyn Sharp and husband, John of Tulsa; sons: Charles K. Mertz of Ponca City; Thomas H. Mertz and wife Julie of Stillwater; daughter-in-law Nancy Taylor of Ponca City; sisters: Elaine M. Harris of Dallas, TX; Martha M. Buss and husband Ken of Dallas, TX; grandchildren: Sandi Fulks of Tulsa; Sarah Wheeler and husband Dave of Tulsa; Hattie Sharp of Dallas; John Sharp of Boulder, Co; Elizabeth Sharp of Tulsa; Allison Bowen and husband Blake of Dallas, TX; Corbin Mertz, Olivia Mertz, and Mattea Mertz, all of Stillwater; great-grandchildren: Caroline and Abigail Wheeler; and Charles Bowen. He was preceded in death by his parents H. A. and Hattie Mertz; infant sister Helen Louise Mertz; brothers: Charles Roy Mertz and Forrest H. Mertz; and his son: John A. Mertz.

Memorial Contributions may be made to: First Baptist Church of Ponca City, or Young Life Clearwater Cove, in Branson, Missouri, c/o PO Box 33176, Tulsa, OK

Honorary Pallbearers are Chris Baldwin, Eddie Dawson, Wally Edwards, Mitch Garrity, Doug Hartley, Gene Jennings



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