Barbara Kay Mercuro, 86, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 2, 2025, in Leesburg, VA.

Kay, as her friends and family knew her, was born in Raton, New Mexico on December 27, 1938. Her family moved to Glendale, Arizona where she graduated from high school in 1956 from Glendale High School. While working at Luke Air Force Base, she met George J. Mercuro who was stationed there in the early years of his career with the US Air Force. They married in March 1960 and began life as a military family that led them all over the world to places like Colorado, Germany, South Carolina, Maryland, Florida, Hawaii, Texas and finally settling in Fairfax, Virginia in 1977.  Soon after moving to Virginia, Kay began a decades long career first as a legal secretary and then as an office manager for the law firm Schmeltzer, Aptaker and Shepard in Washington DC. She was known for her no-nonsense management of high-powered attorneys and running a tight ship all while genuinely caring deeply about every single person in the firm. Upon retirement, she took on the role of Grandma in earnest spoiling and loving on her grandchildren and three great-grandchildren all who loved and adored her. Grandma Kay made everything special and fun.

Kay is preceded in death by her father Buck Morgan, mother Annabelle Newby and step grandson Zach Sanders. She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years Col. George J. Mercuro USAF (Ret) of Fairfax, VA, daughters Debbie Norberg of Ashburn, VA (Bob) and Michele Durham of Flower Mound, TX (Barry), her son George Jr. Mercuro, Jr. (Stephanie) of Hamilton, VA, her grandchildren: Chase Durham (Kendall), Kelsey Cattler, (Owen), Nick Mercuro, Megan Mercuro, Christopher Mercuro, Steven Mercuro, Matt Mercuro, Lindsey Norberg, Kyle Norberg, step grandson Nick Sanders and three great grandchildren, Bo, Eden and Nolan. She is also survived by siblings Deanne Wyrick and Monte Morgan and half siblings, Debbie Whitler, Mike Morgan and Tim Morgan.

Kay's legacy to her family, who she fiercely loved, was her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. Because of that faith, we know that she is in the presence of the Lord for eternity.  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." -John 3:16

A private funeral and burial will be held April 23, 2025, at Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Fairfax County Volunteer Fire Department. www.fcvfra.org/donate-and-support