Former Mercy Villa Resident leaves generous legacy

Ralph “Ray” Ekberg would take his cousin Mary Ann on an imaginary historical tour through far-away places like Uganda or Hong Kong during her visits with him at Mercy Villa, a long-term care facility run by St. John’s in Springfield.

“He had a very keen mind and was a very well-read intelligent man,” Mary Ann said. Her father, the late Herman Lohmeyer, was Ray’s mother’s brother.

The retired CPA, who worked for Fuhler, Baker & Company in Sherman Oaks, Calif. for most of his career, had become somewhat of a recluse before his death from colon cancer in July 2006.

About 17 years ago, he and wife Josephine moved to Springfield to be closer with family. Ray was an only child and he and Josephine never had children. The Ekbergs came to Springfield after Josephine had fallen down a flight of stairs, resulting in a blood clot and head injury requiring surgery. Ray was her devoted companion, Mary Ann explained, doting on Josephine for the 10 years she resided at Mercy Villa.

“He chose Mercy Villa largely because it was a Catholic-sponsored facility,” Mary Ann said. “They were both devout Catholics and had been very active in the Catholic faith in California. He never got over his wife Josephine’s death. He was so devoted to her.”

Ray left a $75,625 donation to Mercy Villa in his will – a contribution that will help with a $2 million renovation project funded in part by the Mercy Villa Care Fund. The fund, established through many memorial and estate gifts like that from the Ekbergs, is scheduled to provide $500,000 of the nearly $2 million project. Facility improvements include new windows, new floor and wall coverings and new lighting in all resident rooms, the dining room, activity room, therapy room and entryway.

“With this renewal project we will have the capabilities to use state-of-the-art technology to provide our residents with the highest level and quality of care,” says Don Swafford, Mercy Villa administrator.