Raymond G. Pierce

Raymond Guy Pierce was born during a snowstorm on December 22, 1930 in Gaines, MI and passed away July 11, 2019 in Albuquerque.  He was raised on a farm near Linden, MI and later served in the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1954.  He received a BS in Agricultural Journalism from Michigan State University and an MS in Adult Education from the University of Maryland.  He worked as an agricultural writer and editor at the University of Delaware, the University of Alaska and with the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

He married Janet Pierson in 1961 and they remained married for 58 years.  They homesteaded 120 acres near Fairbanks, AK in 1963, then lived in Maryland before settling in Peoria, IL and raising four children.  Ray Pierce was an active gardener, birder, bridge player and youth coach in multiple sports.  In his later years he focused on writing short stories and assembled his favorites into a book, The Beauty of the Background, still available on Amazon.

He is survived by his wife, Janet; and three children, Scott (wife Jennifer), Jill (husband Dave) and Jay (wife Romy).  His oldest daughter, Robin, died of a brain aneurysm in 1980.  He took special pride in his grandchildren, Jessie, Mitch, Annie, Maggie, Abby, Liam and Silas.

A Memorial Service will be planned, and Ray Pierce will be buried in his plot at Mt. Hawley Cemetery in Peoria, IL alongside his daughter, Robin.  In lieu of flowers please feel free to make contributions to the Parkinson’s Foundation.