James "Tony" Pierce III

James Edwin "Tony" Pierce III, age 85, passed away on October 7, 2025, in Glasgow, Kentucky. Born on January 29, 1940, in Laredo, Texas, Tony lived a life marked by dedication to his family, his country, and a long-standing career in the oil industry.

Tony spent his formative years in the oil camp Rincon in Southwest Texas, where his father worked in the oil industry. He graduated from Rio Grande City High School in 1958 and pursued further education at the Southwestern Drafting Institute in San Antonio. There, he earned a certificate in Oil Drafting in 1959, equipping him with the skills to create technical drawings and plans for oil and gas projects-skills that would serve as the foundation for his lifelong career.

Even during his student years, Tony demonstrated a strong work ethic. He held summer jobs and worked for an avocado distributor during the school year. His early professional journey began in 1958 with Adair Pipeline Co. in Corpus Christi as a roustabout. He continued similar work with Continental Oil Co. in Benavides in 1959 and joined Shell Oil Co. on a Geograph crew in 1960.

On December 18, 1961, Tony entered the United States Army in San Antonio. He served overseas in Germany as an Engineer Equipment Mechanic and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Parachutist Medal, and Sharpshooter (Rifle M-1) designation. He was honorably discharged on December 10, 1964.

Following his military service, Tony returned to Alice, Texas, where he resumed work in the oil industry with Mohawk Oil Well Services in 1965. A year later, he became a warehouseman for Baker Oil Tools in Falfurrias. In 1971, he relocated with the company to Houston and worked on both onshore and offshore drilling rigs. His dedication and expertise led to a promotion in 1979 as manager of Baker Packers in Kilgore. In later years, he continued to serve wherever needed-primarily in Beaumont and Palestine-until his retirement in 2004 after an impressive 38-year tenure with Baker Oil Tools.

Beyond his professional life, Tony had a deep curiosity for technology and communication. In the early 1970s, he built a homemade AM radio and soon after became fascinated with CB radios-learning to build and modify them himself. His passion grew into amateur radio operation; he earned his ham radio license and enjoyed connecting with people across the globe. In the late 1970s, he took up metal detecting with a Radio Shack detector and eventually joined a local club with his family by the mid-1980s. Always eager to learn new skills, Tony embraced the digital age by converting a room into his personal computer lab during the mid-1990s where he taught himself how to repair both desktop computers and laptops.

Tony was raised in the Baptist faith and believed deeply in our Lord and Savior. While not formally affiliated with a local congregation, he occasionally attended special services alongside his family.

Tony married Karen Perkins on January 12, 1965, in Ada, Oklahoma. They shared 25 years of marriage until her passing in 1990. Later, he met Brenda Reynolds in Shreveport; they were married on September 26, 1997, in Longview and shared 28 loving years together.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife Brenda Pierce; daughter Renee Smelley (Mack) of Longview; son Jim Pierce (Pat) of Longview; daughter Penny Whitten (Kenneth) of Garvin, Oklahoma; son Chris Sullivan (Terrie) of Frierson, Louisiana; brothers J. D. Pierce (Judy) of San Antonio and Larry Perce (Barbara) of Bandera; seven grandchildren; and sixteen great-grandchildren.

Tony was preceded in death by his father James Pierce Jr., mother Carmen Tilley Pierce; sister Linda Louise Pierce; brother Francis Ralph Langley; first wife Karen Pierce; and daughter Amanda Sullivan.

A man of many talents and enduring commitment to those around him, Tony leaves behind a legacy rooted in hard work, curiosity, and quiet faith. May his memory bring comfort to those who knew him.