Howard Littleton Mercer, age 90, of Crossville, Tennessee, passed away on September 23, 2022.  He was born on June 29, 1932, in Nashville, TN, to the late Paul Woodard Mercer and the late Dorothy Aline (Ethridge) Mercer.

Howard graduated in 1950 from McCallie School, Chattanooga, Tennessee. He served his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. Following his service, Howard studied at the Georgia Institute of Technology and graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

He came to Crossville in 1962 where he founded Mountain Farm Bakery.  He sold the business in 1980. In February 1981 he established Mountain Farm International Tractor Supply Company with two dear friends, Fred Stout and Guy Phillips.  The following year the three of them and Allen Howard opened a Mountain Farm International Tractor Supply Company in McMinnville, Tennessee.  Howard and his very close friend, Bill Taylor, opened two additional companies, one in Springfield, Tennessee, and another in Russellville, Kentucky.  Also, in 1981 Howard, Bill Taylor, and Guy Phillips purchased Turner Brothers Stone and established Turner Brothers Stone of Crossville, Inc.  In 1992, Howard’s youngest son, Woody, joined him in the business and Howard gradually began to retire from his many endeavors.

Howard was a very dedicated and involved member of the First United Methodist Church of Crossville where he served as a Trustee and chaired both the Finance and Endowment Fund Committees.  He was also a member of the United Methodist Men.

Howard is survived by his devoted wife of 71 years, Frieda Barber Mercer; son, Howard Littleton Mercer, Jr. (Sharon); daughters, Manda (Mandy) Mercer Holder (Jim) and Melissa (Missy) Mercer Cain; daughter-in-law, Jelene George Mercer, 6 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Howard is preceded in death by his son, Miles Woodard (Woody) Mercer; granddaughter, Brenda Dales Holder; brother, John Ernest Mercer; and stepmother, Jewell Tant Mercer.

A Celebration of Life will be held at First United Methodist Church on Saturday, October 1, 2022, at 2:00 PM with Reverend Jerry Mayo and Reverend Steven Lee officiating. Burial will follow at Crossville City Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00 PM prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the Mercer family requests donations are made to First United Methodist Church of Crossville or The Endowment Fund of First United Methodist Church of Crossville:  100 Braun Street, Crossville, Tennessee 38555; McCallie School, 500 Dodds Ave., Chattanooga, Tennessee 37404; Wounded Warrior Project:  P.O Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 or Tunnel To Towers Foundation:  2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306.