Posted on October 27, 2025
Horror fan Mervin Kearse finally gets the tattoo he’s wanted for 20 years.
Friday the 13th was a lucky day for Penn-Mar resident Mervin Kearse.
Mervin shows off his Michael Myers tattoo on his upper arm.
Mervin finally fulfilled a dream he’s had for 20 years: getting a Michael Myers tattoo! This past June, he scheduled the first of two nearly four-hour sessions on a very fitting day, Friday the 13th.
Michael Myers, the masked villain from the Halloween series, has terrified audiences for decades. The story has taken many twists and turns over the years, which is part of what keeps fans like Mervin coming back.
A horror film fanatic, Mervin is the friendly face you will see if you visit Panera Bread in York. He greets and checks on customers to ensure they are satisfied with their experience. He is kind and articulate, the complete opposite of the Michael Myers character he follows. Mervin’s fascination with him stems from knowing that “this really bad guy” will eventually get what he deserves.
Senior Direct Support Professional (SDSP) Tammy Watts was a strong advocate of Mervin’s decision to get his unique tattoo. She helped him find images of artwork that he liked, researched the most reputable tattoo parlor, assisted with scheduling, and accompanied him to his two appointments. In fact, Mervin’s eagerness to get his dream tattoo even inspired her to get two new tattoos of her own: a key symbol of the Greek Goddess Hecate and the face of Medusa with her signature snake hair.
Both Mervin and Tammy have other tattoos, but their shared experience was especially meaningful. “We’re tattoo buddies now,” Tammy said.
Mervin has been supported in a Penn-Mar community home for 15 years. He enjoys making friends at the Day Program where he reads and bakes. It is very important to Mervin to be able to work and make his own money, since he doesn’t only support himself — he also needs to buy food for his pet bearded dragon, Ebony!
The Penn-Mar staff were overwhelmingly supportive of Mervin’s choice to get a tattoo after talking through each step of the process with him. Tammy addressed his tolerance for pain and the risks involved with his disability, including the possibility of triggering seizures.
Mervin readily accepted the risks and described the tattooing sessions as surprisingly pain-free. “It was a much better experience than I imagined,” he said.
When Tammy posted a picture of Mervin on Facebook showing off the final product, he fielded lots of questions and compliments from staff, customers, housemates, and fellow Day Program participants.
One person with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) supported by Penn-Mar wanted a tattoo of her own, and Mervin encouraged her, assuring her that “the needles won’t hurt.”
Mervin loves his new tattoo. “I’m so happy that I could make my own decision about this and pay for what I wanted with my own money,” he said. “Tammy was always cheering me on. It was a fun experience learning together how to make this happen.”
When asked if he was inspired to pursue other unique experiences, Mervin was quick to respond that he has two more Halloween-themed tattoos in mind: one depicting a wolf with its baby shadowed by the moon and trees, and another with a cat inside a pumpkin.
“It was such a pleasurable thing to be able to assist Mervin and help him attain one of his dreams,” Tammy said. “His excitement and passion were contagious. When he’s up for the experience again, I may even get another tattoo with him!”