STANLEY DUANE PIERCE

Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home

Dad missed mom so much. He quietly joined her on January 2, 2011, after settling in for the evening at home in Ferndale, WA.

He was born March 20, 1926, to William Lee and Jennie Otelie Pierce in Lead, South Dakota. Older brother, Gordon Lyle was there to welcome him. Two sisters followed in later years (Joyce Arlene and Bonnie Lee). His younger years were spent in S. Dakota, Wyoming and Utah as his dad sought work in the oil fields. As a teenager he moved to Portland, Oregon (via motorcycle), and eventually to Pasco where he and his dad lived the summer of 1942 in a tin trailer. Finley was home for a year and then his parents bought the house with the stone foundation on Edison Street (sight unseen) in West Kennewick, where he lived until graduating from KHS in 1944. He joined the Army Air Corps and was stationed in Florida.

Following his military service, he was introduced to our mother, Eugena Pierce, by her brother, Kenneth Schmidt. They married in 1946 and raised four children: Pam, Stan, Phyllis and Cindy. They lived in Kennewick all their married lives until moving to Ferndale 10 years ago.

Dad was a carpenter for most of his life, building several of the homes we lived in. He spent several years in the Maintenance Department at WPPSS, retiring in the mid '80s. Although his livelihood was carpentry and maintenance, his love was automobiles, so much, that he built a pole building on his property in Kennewick and built yet another in Ferndale. He could spend many hours tinkering on his cars or some sort of equipment. He must have had 5 stars by his name from automotive mail order catalogues. Packages of all sizes were delivered frequently to the Pierce home.

He restored several vehicles: Cadillacs, a 1949 Ford pickup, 1970 Ford Ranchero, Red Ford Granada, a Volkswagen with a wind-up key on the back, several 1940s-era tractors and many others. His final project was a 1925 Model T with license plates 25 T 4 2. The 1949 Ford pickup was My4T9R.

Dad also enjoyed collecting guns and had reloading equipment set up at home for years. One of his later joys was to take the family out to the shooting range. He loved a good joke and would tell stories with great finesse. He would laugh so hard that tears would flow down his cheeks. He mastered the silent laugh eyes closed, mouth open, shoulders shaking, no sound. Often, we found dad, son, sons-in-law and grandsons around the kitchen counter retelling old stories laughing, laughing, laughing. Dad also enjoyed some unusual foods buttermilk, jalape–os, pickled pig's feet, tapioca, sardines, and he would introduce these items to unsuspecting family members and laugh.

On any given weekend morning, he might call to gather the family and head out to breakfast. 'Throw some clothes on and order up! Dad's treat.' There really wasn't much he didn't love about being surrounded by his family, kids, grandkids, great grandkids. He thanked God daily for his family.

Ten years ago, mom and dad moved to Ferndale, WA, where they lived on 21Ú2 green acres. He always wanted a parcel of land with a stream running through it. Mom and dad thoroughly enjoyed that home.

Preceding him in death are his parents, William Lee and Jennie Otelie Pierce; his sister, Joyce Arlene McKune; brother, Gordon Lyle Pierce; and his kind, loving and attentive wife, Eugena. He leaves behind his sister, Bonnie Lee Godsey (Hendersonville, N.C.); daughter, Pamela Janean (Marv) Purvis, Richland; son, Stanley Paul, Kennewick; daughter, Phyllis Jolene (Maurice ) Stinn, Mt. Vernon; daughter, Cynthia Joanne (Jim) Petrie, Ferndale; and grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Bradley (Leisha) and children, Andrew (Amy) and Cole, Peyton and Evan, Stephanie and children, Candice and son, Tyler (special friend, Veronica), Kyle Duane (special friend, Megan), Austin, Tajanna, Lindsay, Samantha, Katie, Andy; and special people, Denine Barton and young friend, Leo. His humor, love and generosity will be missed by all.

Viewing will be held on Sunday, January 23rd, from 5:00-8:00 p.m., at Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home on 10th and Union. Services will be held on Monday, January 24, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. in the Desert View room at Bethel Church, 600 Shockley Road in Richland. Graveside will follow at Desert Lawn Memorial Park at 2:00 p.m.

The family invites you to sign their online guestbook at www.muellersfuneralhomes.com.