Mr. Pierce was born in Orange County, NC, May 16, 1936, to the late Leonard and Mary Kendrick Pierce. He was a retired farmer and longtime mechanic at Farmer’s Tractor Shop in Jackson, NC. He also enjoyed his gardening. In addition to his parents, Mr. Pierce was preceded in death by his first wife, Patsy Crowder Pierce; two brothers, Leonard Pierce, Jr and James Daniel “J.D.” Pierce, and his sisters, Dorothy Manning, Blanche Crowder, Catherine Crowder and Carol Ann Wilson; grandchild, Donna Keeter and great grandchild, Joshua Smith.

Surviving are his wife of 32 years, Myrtle Rooker Pierce of the home; two sons, Earl Pierce and wife, Linda, of Conway, James A. Pierce of Woodland, two step sons, Jerry Lynch, Jr. and wife, Debra, and Billy Lynch both of Roanoke Rapids; two daughters, Paula P. Brisson and husband, Mike, of Halifax, and Donna P. Beasley and husband, Michael, of Murfreesboro,NC; three step daughters, Barbara L. Keeter and husband, Bobby, of Roanoke Rapids, Wanda L. Tart and husband, Donald,of Littleton, NC and Rita L. Tart and husband, Andy, of Roanoke Rapids; four sisters, Virginia Dickerson and husband, Gerald, of Louisiana, Thelma Evans and husband, Wiley, Mildred Harris and husband, Harvery, both of Henderson, NC, and Ellen Raines and husband, Ray, of Smithfield, NC; grandchildren, Heather H. Johnson, Wayne Hatcher, Nicole Spence, Candace Beasley, Olivia Perry, Linwood Pierce, Keisha Wells, Stephanie Shotwell, Sonya Pulley, D.J. Tart, Robert Jenkins, Tiffaney Crowe, Jennifer Wrenn, James Tart, Jessica Little, Amanda Lynch-Such, Alex Little, Thomas Lynch, Kaylee Lynch, and Billy Lynch, Jr. Also surviving are 30 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

The family will receive friends Sunday, April, 02, 2017, at Hockaday Funeral & Cremation Service from 7-9 pm. Randy Crowder and Harvey Harris will conduct funeral services Monday, April 03, 2017 in the chapel at Hockaday at 2:00 pm. Interment will follow in Cedarwood Cemetery.

Online condolences may be sent to www.hockadayfs.com