105-Year-Old WWII Veteran Honored

UPDATE: It is with sadness to report 105-year-old Mercede (correct spelling) Marcucci Starr passed away before this newsletter was published. May she rest in peace and be reunited with her deceased loved ones, including her beloved husband and life-long partner, Larry Starr. Below is Mercede Starr’s story and details on a recent special ceremony hosted by NDVS to honor and celebrate her longevity and military service in World War II.  

Mercede Starr and her husband Ronald “Larry” Starr are long-time, cherished members of the Lovelock community. She and Larry chose Lovelock as their home after World War II. The couple raised two sons, ran businesses and became part of the fabric that makes up Lovelock.  

Earlier this month, the Lovelock community rallied together to recognize and pay tribute to Mercede for her military service in the U.S. Navy during World War II. The Nevada Department of Veterans Services hosted a special Veterans in Care Ceremony to honor the veteran who is 105-years-young.  

Mercede was born in Ogden, Utah in 1919. She and her family first moved to Lovelock when she was in the 4th grade. While in school, she was active in clubs and sports including the Fireside Circle, tennis, and basketball.  

After high school, Mercede was working for her family’s store and the local drug store when she met Larry, fell in love, and married. Larry joined the Navy as a Seabee and was stationed in Alaska. She decided she wanted to help represent her family and country when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Navy Women’s Reserve Act, known as WAVES. She reports this decision nearly caused a divorce!  

She enlisted in February of 1944 and trained for six weeks at the Naval Training School in Bronx, NY. She ended up serving at the district staff headquarters of the 12th Naval District in San Francisco. She also served in the U.S. Naval Munitions Depot in Vallejo, CA and at Mare Island. She was a Seaman 1st Class and a telegrapher 3rd Class. She would telegraph orders and supply ammunitions for naval warships of the Pacific Fleet. Mercede was honorably discharged in June of 1945. 

After the war, Mercede and Larry returned to Lovelock where, among so many other things, in her spare time she kept score and was the record keeper for the Lovelock Little League teams. When the Little League and local football teams needed equipment or supplies, she would invite local construction companies to a homemade Italian dinner, serve them the food and then ask for donations for the program! For more on the special Lovelock ceremony, go HERE.