Mercedes McKinney

Mercedes Denise Wilson McKinney, a.k.a. Mertee, was a loving wife, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She left this world on February 5, 2021.

Mercedes loved sports, running cross country, and playing varsity basketball with The Crew at Orange High School, and intramural dodgeball and softball with her Washington Hall friends at Ohio University. She enrolled herself and her husband in karate classes at the Cleveland Heights Community Center and took her cousins to Cumberland Pool, giving them confidence to pass the swim test. She was filled with energy—and she left it all on the dance floor.

Mertee was a natural communicator. Whether performing at Stagecrafters Youth Theater, speaking at the Model U.N. in high school, hosting a dating show in college, soliciting donations for the Cleveland International Film Festival, or holding court amongst friends and strangers alike, Mert never had any trouble commanding the attention of any room.

She loved to travel the world, making her way to Japan, Australia, Spain, Italy, Ireland, the Caribbean, and all over North America. She was constantly in awe of new experiences, and loved meeting new people.

Mertee is known for many things: the way her beautiful smile and tenacious affection could warm the coldest hearts; the way children gravitated toward her. She was obsessed with trying every new drinking fountain and rated each on her own 30-point scale (factoring in flow, temperature, taste, and overall experience). Her favorite color was orange, but her real favorite color was tie dye.

Mercedes insisted there was no limit to how many “best” friends one could have, and she had many who will miss her dearly.

Mercedes is survived by her husband, Paul; her parents, Gail and Lawrence Wilson; her sister, Kelley Britt; her brother Lawrence Wilson; her in-laws Greg (Jamie) McKinney, Jill (Jerry) Jividen and Morgan (Bryan) Paul; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and best friends.

A private memorial service is scheduled for 3/13 at 3:33pm at Calhoun Funeral Home at 23000 Rockside Rd. in Bedford Heights, OH 44146 and will be live streamed at calhounfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio on her behalf.