Justus August Mertz Jr.

Justus A. “Jay” Mertz, Jr., 83, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at home in Arlington, Texas.

Jay was born on September 25, 1939 in Yoakum, TX. He graduated from Waco High in 1958. After attending Baylor University, he joined the Army National Guard before enlisting in the United States Air Force. While serving at Fairchild Air Base in Spokane, WA, he met and married his wife Joanne.

Jay never met a stranger. He was generous with his love and friendship, his wit and wisdom. For his friends and family, he had a heart as big as Texas.

Jay excelled as a business owner. His first business in Arlington, TX was JayMer Designs, a commercial interior design business focused on grocery store design across the Southeastern U.S. He moved to Corsicana, TX and established Rabbit Hill Farm, an organic soil and fertilizer business. Jay was a pioneer in organic gardening. He loved educating people as well as learning about organic horticulture. It was his honor to serve on the Texas Organic Advisory Board as well as a board member of TOFGA, the Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. He was also proud to serve his community as the President of the Angus Water Supply Corporation for 33 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Justus A. Mertz, Sr. and Helen Krocker Mertz, his sister Marylyn Mertz, and his dear friends Porky Hogg and Harry McCord.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joanne Thorpe Mertz of Arlington, son Jeffrey Mertz and daughter-in-law Jeannie Robinson of Los Angeles, CA.

A memorial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Jay’s memory to The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson’s Research. You can donate now by clicking here.