Jerold Pierce

"Jerold Pierce" BRISTOL, Va. - Jerold Roman Pierce, 54, of 5012 Gate City Highway, Bristol, Va., entered into his heavenly home on Saturday, May 14, 2005. "Jerry" was born on May 11, 1951, in Duluth, son of Delores and the late Roman Pierce. He graduated from Iron Mountain High School in 1969 and from Northern Michigan University in 1973. He married Christy Rae Walters at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Iron Mountain on July 8, 1972. Upon graduation from Northern Michigan University, he began working for Ford Motor Credit Co. He remained with Ford for 32 years starting as a repossessor in Saginaw, lower Michigan. After 10 years, he transferred to Dallas then to Amarillo, Texas. In 1988, he moved to Albuquerque, N.M. as FMC branch operations manager and later as a dealer account representative. He and Christy made many great friendships wherever they were located. Retirement in 2004, took them to Bristol where they enjoyed being closer to their two grandsons. Jerry was a member of Highlands Fellowship Church in Abingdon, Va. He was a life member of Optimists International and had served as president of the Northwest Optimist Club in Albuquerque. Jerry was an avid Minnesota Vikings and New Mexico Lobos fan and often ushered at Lobos games. He loved to fish with his son and nephews and was looking forward to teaching his grandsons the fine art of fishing. Jerry was a very giving and unselfish person and loved volunteering and helping wherever he was needed. He also enjoyed being a part of a chase crew for hot air ballooning while in Albuquerque and was instrumental in bringing relatives and friends to their first experience of hot air ballooning. Jerry is survived by his wife, Christy; one daughter, Heidi (Gary) McGeough of Bristol; one son, Ryan (Debbie) of Albuquerque; two special grandsons, Tyler, age 5, and Austin, age 9 months, McGeough of Bristol; his mother, Delores "Dee" Pierce; three sisters, Nancy (Rick) Anderson and Wendy (Mark) Warmuth all of Iron Mountain; and Pam (Dan) Janish of St. Croix, Virgin Islands; one brother, Randy (Deanna) of Negaunee; his mother and father-in-law, Harlan and Orice Walters of Iron Mountain; two brother-in-laws, Lennie (special friend, Lorrie) and Tim Walters both of Iron Mountain; and sister-in-law, Sally (Bill) Borga; and many very special nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death was an infant daughter, Chelsea Rae, and his father, Roman Pierce. The visitation will be on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church on S. Stephenson Ave in Iron Mountain. The Celebration of Life Service begins at 12 noon with Rev. Peter Jonas officiating Pallbearers will be Rick Anderson, Mark Warmuth, Lennie Walters, Tim Walters and Bill Borga. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his memory to "A Gift of Life Memorials" at Mountain Region Donor Services, 110 KLM Drive Suite 2, Gray, Tenn. 37615 Condolences may be expressed to the family of Jerry Pierce online at www.errnashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.

Jerold Pierce

May 14, 1951 - May 14, 2005