Founder of IVCC nursing program dies
The woman who developed IVCC's nursing program died Jan. 2 at the age of 82.
Former Director of Nursing Crystal (Springborn) Mercer died at her home in Tahlequah, Okla. She developed the IVCC nursing program in 1966 and directed the program until 1979, when she retired.
A graduate of L-P High School, she went to People's Hospital (now IVCH) in Peru where she received her training as a Registered Nurse. She enlisted in the Navy Nurse Corps in 1943 and after the war she received a B.A. in bible and Christian missionary work from Bob Jones University.
In 1949, she went to Africa as a medical missionary. After 12 years in Africa, she returned to the U.S. and earned her Masters Degree in Nursing Education at Indiana University. She taught nursing at Indiana Central College before coming to IVCC.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Faulkner Mercer in 1991.
Survivors include her son, Joe Mercer and wife, Lois, of Wichita, Kansas; daughter Sharon Leppke and husband, Allen, of Fresno, Calif.; adopted daughter, Becky Humphrey and husband, Dan, of Calif.; sister Elaine Grimm and husband, Willis, of Tahlequah, Okla.; brothers Merle Springborn of Virginia Beach, Julius Springborn of Rocky Mountain, N.C.; nine grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren.