Obituary for Carl Pierce

Carl Francis Pierce

April 9, 1927 – October 29, 2022

Carl Francis Pierce was born April 9, 1927, at Crisfield, KS, and was the first-born child of Jacob A. and Daisy M. (Hacker) Pierce. He passed to his eternal heavenly home on Saturday, October 29, 2022, from Via Christi Village, Ponca City, OK, at the age of 95 years, 6 months, and 20 days.

His funeral will be held Friday, November 4, 2022, at 1 p.m., at the First Lutheran Church, 1101 North Fourth Street, Ponca City, OK, with Pastor Joseph Highley officiating. Burial will be immediately following the service at Resthaven Memorial Park, 1901 East Hubbard Road, Ponca City. Viewing will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, November 3, 2022, at Trout Funeral Home, 505 West Grand, Ponca City. Those unable to attend the Funeral Ceremony, may attend virtually on the Trout Funeral Home website, www.troutfuneralhome.com and click on the live-stream or toolbar icon on the top right corner after 12:45 p.m.

Carl attended grade school at Crisfield, KS, where he skipped a grade because the curriculum was too easy for him. In the early 1940s the family settled on a farm outside Attica, KS, and Carl was graduated from Attica High School in 1944. His senior class motto, “One step at a time, but always forward,” was a formula he chose for his entire life.

At some time after high school, he went to work for the Santa Fe Railway Company as a switchman, a position which involved moving from location to location every few weeks.

On November 20, 1948, he married Joann Howell. After the first of their three children was born, the moving every few weeks with the railroad became a hardship on the family, so he took a position with a Buick and International Harvester farm implement company in Kingman, KS, as a mechanic, and the family settled there.

His mechanical skills afforded him the opportunity to transfer to Hays, KS, in 1959 with the International Harvester company, and then in 1960, he was transferred to Blackwell, OK, with this company. He and Joann raised their three children in Blackwell, and they completed their education there. Carl and Joann moved to Ponca City, OK, in 1973 where he worked for Wilkins Equipment Company until his retirement in 1986.

Sometime after Carl and Joann separated, he later met and married Dorothy Foster in Alva, OK. They were married 24 years before her sudden passing in January 1996.

In November 1997 he married Luella Lieurance in Isabella, OK. They made their home together in Ponca City, OK. When Luella became ill and in need of nursing care, they moved to Via Christi Village, where she passed away in 2021.

Carl enjoyed hunting, fishing, wood crafting, playing cards and dominoes with family and friends, and visiting and helping others. He spent at least 25 summers in the mountains of the South Fork, CO, area. He and Luella hiked many miles in those mountains with friends from the campground, and Carl and some of the other men enjoyed spending nights out sleeping under the stars on some of their longer hikes.

Carl always chose his words carefully and spoke slowly. He didn’t tolerate a lot of nonsense, but he loved a good laugh or joke as much as anyone. While he was a very sympathetic person, when his children might get a minor bump or bruise, one of his favorite comments was “It’ll feel better when it quits hurting.” Although Carl was not a wealthy man, he had a caring heart and didn’t mind sharing with others. Because of this, the list of charities to which he faithfully donated is long.

Carl had a very strong work ethic and took all his work and personal responsibilities seriously. He was honorable and trustworthy and expected the same from others. During WWII he enlisted in military service, but the war ended the next day and his service was not needed. Loving our country, he proudly displayed the American flag in his yard. His belief and trust in God were very strong, and he knew he would spend eternity in heaven.

In his last year he reconnected with Joann, and they spent their days sitting side-by-side observing the goings-on at the nursing facility and eating their meals together.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents; his wives Dorothy and Luella; infant siblings Bobbie Lee and a stillborn brother, and baby sister Georgia Mae; adult sisters, Carol Marie (Kay) Myers, Helen June Long, and Leota Fae Lowery; grandson, Lunden Shane Miller; and a step-great-granddaughter, Ellie Martin.

He is survived by his daily companion Joann Ward; his children, Donnie Pierce (Glenda), Marjorie Cassady (Dennis), and Beverly Stolhand (James), all of Ponca City, OK. Also surviving are grandchildren, Misty Fath (Dale) and Tammie Reggio, Blackwell, OK; Jake Pierce (Fawne), Tonkawa, OK; Dereck Cassady, Newkirk, OK; Kristi Cortez (Rick), Edmond, OK; and Decky Timothy (Shea), Edmond, OK; along with his great grandchildren Blaine Fath, Hailey Fath, Ali Maness, Seth Maness, Kimber Reggio, Colt Reggio, Dalton Pierce, Kelsey Cassady, Kaley Cassady, Ky Cassady, Krisha Cassady, Kyler Cassady, Kealan Nauman, Kamrick Cortez, Horizon Miller, Gage Miller, Hunter Timothy, Gracelyn Timothy, Everly Timothy, and Samuel Timothy; and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

Additional survivors include sisters Leola Snyder, Wichita, KS, and Shirley Burt, Salina, many nieces and nephews, KS, step-daughters Phyllis Martin (Ray), Clinton, OK; Donna Smith (Gregg), Enid, OK; and Millie Nickel (John), Ulysses, KS; as well as 7 step-grandchildren and 7 step-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to First Lutheran Church, 1101 North Fourth Street, Ponca City, OK 74601, or The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22958, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.

We invite you to leave a message of condolence or expression of sympathy or share a memory of Carl at www.troutfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.

Source: Trout Funeral Home