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Lee M. Pierce Family

 
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Abel Brown Sr. and Adelaide Hall Pierce Family

Hall-Pierce Bible Records
 


Lee M. Pierce Family
By Lee M. Pierce
 

Lee, or "Tick" as he was generally called, attended grammar school in Blessing's old two-story brick building and high school at St. James Episcopal School in Hagerstown, Maryland. He worked as a roustabout for Skelly Oil Company for several years, then served in the "Sea Bees" during World War II. After the war, he farmed at Sargent, Texas, and became a cattle rancher in the Blessing area. During this time he lived first in Blessing, with his office in the old Blessing Bank building, where he conducted an insurance business and helped his mother, Mrs. Adelaide Hall Pierce.

Those endeavors included the administration of the Blessing Hotel and other properties, which included the town water system, later sold to Matagorda County Water Control and Improvement District No. 5. Thereafter, he leased Live Oak Farm on the Tres Palacios River and Highway 35 from the Heffelfinger heirs and lived there until he moved to his home in Blessing in 1982.

 

Lee was a past president of the Tidehaven School Board and was continuing president of the Hawley Cemetery Association. He was one of the organizers of the Cecil Lee Post No. 649 of the American Legion and was a Past Commander and in 1984 was Adjutant. Lee Mudge "Tick" Pierce was born on November 11 , 1913, in Blessing to Abel B. and Adelaide Hall Pierce. He married two times. First to Jedie Franke Chiles on June 10, 1936. Jedie "Pie" was born on November 10, 1920, in Lane City, Texas, to Mr. and Mrs. E. I. Chiles, Sr. She died on October 17, 1970, in Bay City Their children were:
 

1. Lee Hall Pierce, who was born in Bay City, and on May 24, 1964, married Ona Lea Schroeder, who was born in Bellville, Texas, to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Schroeder. Their children were Lee Edward and Jedie Lynn, both born in Bay City.

 

2. Michael Edwards Pierce, Sr., who was born on July 12,1939, in Bay City, and on May 21 , 1961, married Freda Yvonne "Tiny" Williams, who was born on February 18, 1941 , in Galveston to Clyde Benton and Freda Fink Williams. Michael and Tiny were the parents of Michael Edwards, Jr. and Stacy Germaine, both born in Bay City.

 

3. Fredrick Leslie "Pokey" Pierce, who was born in Bay City, and on June 1 , 1974, married Dina Ann Laslie, who was born in Bay City to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Laslie. Their children were Sarena Ann and Sabrene Lee, both born in Bay City.

 

Tick's second marriage was to Annie Marie Hamon Selman on July 10,1978. She was born in Hamon, Texas, to Mr. and Mrs. John Hamon.


Historic Matagorda County, Volume II, page 407                        photo: Lee Mudge "Tick" Pierce standing, Hall Edwards "Buddye" Pierce & Abel Brown "John Henry" Pierce, Jr.

 


Lee Mudge “Tick” Pierce

Funeral services for Lee M. “Tick” Pierce, 84, of Blessing, will be held at 4:00 PM Tuesday, July 14, 1998 at the Taylor Bros. Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Nick Novak officiating. Interment will follow at Hawley Cemetery
, Blessing.

Pierce passed away July 12, 1998 in Bay City. He was born November 11, 1913 in Blessing to Abel Brown Pierce and Adelaide Hall Pierce. He attended Blessing Elementary School and graduated from St. James Episcopal School in Maryland.

Pierce joined the U. S. Navy during World War II and was stationed in the Pacific. He was a farmer, rancher and owner and operator of the Ace of Clubs Ranch and the Pierce Insurance Agency.

He was a member and was instrumental in the establishment of the American Legion Cecil Lee Post # 649, of Blessing and served as Commander, Adjutant, Treasurer and Judge Advocate. He was President of the Hawley Cemetery
 Association in Blessing, he served on the Tidehaven I.S.D. School Board for fifteen years and was also School Board President.

Pierce was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church of Palacios and served as member of the Board of Vestry and served as Senior Warden for many years. He was a member of the Blessing Historical Foundation and a member of the Sons of the Republic of Texas in Bay City.

Pierce is survived by his wife, Pauline Pekar Pierce of Blessing; by his sons and daughters-in-law: Lee Hall Pierce & wife Ona Lee of Blessing, Fredrick L. Pierce & wife Crystal of Blessing, and Yvonne Pierce of Blessing; by his Step-children, Jody & Raymond Matura of Pt. Lavaca and Carolyn & Eddie Heatwole of Houston; and by a brother: Abel B. Pierce & wife Ruth of Blessing.

He is also survived by his grandchildren: Michael E. Pierce, Jr. & wife Jackie, Stacy G. Pierce Wolf & husband Joe, Lee Edward Pierce, Jedie L. Pierce, Sarena A. Pierce Williams & husband Travis, Sabrina L. Pierce, and Colton T. Pierce; by his step-grandchildren: Natalie Longacre & husband Wayne and Christe Heatwole; by his great grandchildren: Heather Pierce, Wendy Pierce, Michael Wolf, Phillip Zarate, Jr.; by his step-great grandchild: Mark Longacre.

He is preceded in death by a wife, Jedie Chiles Pierce in 1970, by a wife, Anna Marie Selman Pierce in 1990; by his children, Michael E. Pierce, Sr. and Mary Alice Pierce; and by his brothers: Hall Edwards Pierce and Clinton Lacy Pierce.

Pallbearers will be Lee Edward Pierce, Michael E. Pierce, Jr., Joe Wolf, Mel Anders, Emmitt Owen Chiles, and Lawrence Bartosh.

Honorary Pallbearers include the Members of the American Legion-Cecil Lee Post # 649, his Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren, and his Step-Grandchildren and Step-Great Grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to: Blessing Historical Foundation, P. O. Box 275 Blessing, TX 77419; Matagorda County Museum, 2100 Ave F. Bay City, TX 77414; or to the charity of choice.

Arrangements are with Taylor Bros. Funeral Home, Bay City

The Daily Tribune, July 14, 1998
 



Jedie Chiles “Pie” Pierce

Pierce, Mrs. Jedie Chiles “Pie”, of Blessing, passed away at age 49 in Matagorda General Hospital, October 17. Mrs. Pierce served as president of Blessing Community House and Library Association and the Cecil Lee Post – American Legion Auxiliary. She was active with the Matagorda County Historical Society, Matagorda County Council for Retarded Children and the Matagorda County Federation of Women’s Clubs. She is survived by her husband, Lee M. Pierce of Blessing; mother, Mrs. E. I. Chiles of Palacios; three sons: Lee Hall, Michael and Frederick Pierce of Blessing; two sisters: Mrs. Harry Tinsley of Rock Hill, South Carolina, and Mrs. R. E. Feather of Jackson, Michigan. Also, four brothers: F. M. Chiles, Odessa; L. L. Chiles of Brazoria; E. I. Chiles, Palacios, and G. A. Chiles, Sugarland. Also, three grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Monday, October 19, 3:00 p. m., Taylor Brothers Chapel. Reverend James Abernathy of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Palacios, will officiate, and interment will be in Hawley Cemetery , Blessing. Pallbearers will be: V. L. Bowers, C. P. Butler, L. L. Rhodes, G. K. Nelson, C. C. Mahrens and B. B. Rhodes. Honorary pallbearers will be: J. E. Cornett, A. R. Domorad, Melvin Lee, A. M. Logan, J. M. Hiltpold, T. L. Kassen, C. L. Thomas, Sr. and G. K. Heck. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church, Palacios, or to the Hawley Cemetery Association. Taylor Brothers Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

The Daily Tribune, October 19, 1975
 


Lee Hall Pierce
(January 25, 1937 - August 26, 2017)

Lee Hall Pierce, 80, lifelong resident of Blessing, TX passed away August 26, 2017. He was born January 25, 1937 in Bay City, TX to the late Lee M. “Tick” Pierce and Jedie “Pie” Chiles Pierce.

He was a graduate of Tidehaven High School and served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church; American Legion Post #649; Hawley Cemetery Association; Masonic Lodge #411; Blessing Historical Foundation; Tidehaven Athletic Boosters; and Texas Cattleman Association.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother Michael E. Pierce, Sr. and his sister Mary Alice Pierce.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years Ona Lea Pierce; son Lee Edward Pierce (Sunny); daughter Jedie Pierce Zarate (Phillip); brother Fredrick “Pokey” Pierce (Mary); grandchildren Phillip Zarate, Jr., Joshua Lee Zarate, Logan Pierce, Zachary Pierce, Kole Mitchell (Baylee), Skylar Mitchell and Kingslee Zarate; great grandchildren Kooper Mitchell & Lynnon Mitchell and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive visitors from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Saturday, September 2, 2017 at Taylor Bros. Funeral Home. The funeral service will be 2:30 PM Sunday, September 3, 2017 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church with Dr. James Ely officiating. Interment will follow at Hawley Cemetery in Blessing, Texas. Pallbearers will be: Phillip R. Zarate Jr, Mike Pierce Jr, Kole Mitchell, Ralph Petersen, Derril Franzen, and Lawrence Bartosh. Honorary pallbearers will be: Billy Jalufka Sr, Jimmy Davant, Walter Skutca, George Capak, Gary Hickl, and Edward Gurecky.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church; PO Box 895; Palacios, TX 77465, Blessing Historical Foundation; PO Box 275; Blessing, TX 77419, or the charity of your choice.

 


Ona Lea Pierce

August 07, 1938 - October 11, 2020

Ona Lea Schroeder Pierce passed away with her children by her side on Sunday October 11, 2020. Ona Lea was born in Bellville, TX on August 7, 1938 to Raymond Edward and Leona Ottmer Schroeder.

She graduated from Belville High school in 1956 and continued her education at Blinn Junior College and then on to Sam Houston State. She received her degree in education and received her first job at Tidehaven High School as a teacher and coach from 1961-2003.

After retirement she continued to teach at some capacity at Tidehaven until 2019. Coming to Tidehaven brought her to the town she would grow to love, Blessing, Texas where she met her husband Lee Hall Pierce.  They married on May 24, 1962.  Their union lasted over 50 years until Lee Hall’s passing in 2017.  They were blessed with two children, Lee Edward and Jedie Lynn. 

Throughout her life Ona Lea had many accomplishments. In high school she was a star basketball player earning All-State Honors and led her team to the State Tournament in 1956.  She took that love of basketball and her love of history and became an amazing teacher and coach.  She touched the lives of so many of her students at Tidehaven High School and was enormously proud to have been a part of this school district.

She was a member of many organizations. Blessing American Legion Auxiliary, Texas State Teachers Association, Blessing Community Center, Matagorda County Museum Board Member, Matagorda Historical Commission, where she was the Chairman for many years, the TX Preservation Commission, The Bay City Book Review, Blessing Historical Foundation, Matagorda County Retired Teachers Association,  and the Hawley Cemetery Association. Ona Lea was also a member of both St. Marks Episcopal Church in Bay City and St. Johns Episcopal Church in Palacios, TX where she served on the Bishops Committee. 

Ona Lea was preceded in death by her husband Lee Hall Pierce, her parents Raymond and Leona Schroeder, her sisters Ilene Zander and Ruth Peters and brother Aaron Schroeder. She is survived by her sister Grace Holtkamp, her son Lee Edward (Sunny), and daughter Jedie Lynn, her grandchildren Logan Miles Pierce, Zachary Allen Pierce, Kole (Baylee) Mitchell, Skylar Mitchell, Phillip R. Zarate Jr., Joshua Lee Zarate, Kingslee Zarate and great grandchildren Kooper and Lynnon Mitchell.  She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. 

Pallbearers will be her grandchildren Phillip R. Zarate Jr, Joshua Lee Zarate, Logan Pierce, Zach Pierce, Kole Mitchell and nephews Mike Pierce Jr., Jeff Holtkamp, and Danny Nichols. All former Tidehaven Students will serve as honorary pallbearers.

 Visitation will be held Thursday Oct 15th from 9-10 at Taylor Brothers Funeral Home.  Services will follow @ 10:30am at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.  Please social-distance, masks must be worn inside the church at all times.  Please respect the churches guidelines during this difficult time. The service will be streamed on Facebook if possible. If you have any symptoms, please pay your respects to the family in another manner.  If the Church is full, please join us at graveside services at Hawley Cemetery in Blessing Texas.  Space will not be limited at the cemetery.  Please feel free to spread out and join us in laying mom to rest.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Blessing Historical Foundation, St. John’s Episcopal Church, or The Matagorda County Museum.

Taylor Brothers Funeral Home
 


Lee Edward Pierce

November 15, 1966 - November 19, 2020

Lee Edward Pierce passed away on Thursday November 19, 2020. Lee Edward was born in Bay City, Tx on November 15,1966 to Lee Hall and Ona Lea Pierce.  He graduated from Tidehaven High School in 1985.  He soon enlisted into the United States Navy and served his country from 1988-1992.  Upon returning to Blessing, Texas he continued Ranching and maintaining Ace of Clubs Ranch until his passing. 

Lee married Sunny Weldon Pierce November 13, 1999. Lee and Sunny had 4 children, Kole, Skylar, Logan and Zachary.  Lee was a member of many organizations.  Matagorda County Cattleman's Association,  American Legion Post 649, Sons of the American Legion, President of the Blessing Historical Foundation, Vice President of Hawley Cemetery Association, Tidehaven Independent School District Board Member and Vice President of the Matagorda County WCID#5. Lee was also a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Palacios TX. 

Lee Edward was preceded in death by his parents Lee Hall and Ona Lea Pierce. He is survived by his wife Sunny Pierce, sons Kole (Baylee) Mitchell, Logan Miles Pierce, Zachary Allen Pierce and daughter Skylar Glynn Mitchell, his grandchildren Kooper and Lynnon Mitchell, his sister Jedie Pierce and several nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and many friends. 

Pallbearers will be his nephews Phillip Zarate Jr., Joshua Zarate, his cousin Mike Pierce Jr. , lifelong friends Mike Davant, Billy Jalufka, Matthew Dodd and Scott Jackson. Honorary Pallbearers are Ronnie Piwonka, Bill Miller, Wesley Franzen, Travis Dodd, Bowie Hatchett, David Rutherford, Seth Stelle  and his Tidehaven Family.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 am at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Please follow social-distance guidelines, masks must be worn inside the church at all times.  Please respect the churches guidelines during this difficult time.  If the church is full please join us at Hawley Cemetery in Blessing Texas.  Please spread out and join us as we lay our dear husband, father, peppy, brother, uncle and friend to rest. 

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Blessing Historical Foundation or Hawley Cemetery.

Taylor Bros. Funeral Home
 


Michael Edwards Pierce

Funeral services for Michael Edwards Pierce Sr., 53, of Blessing will be held 4 p. m. today at Taylor Brothers Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Karl Choate officiating. Burial will be at Hawley Cemetery, Blessing.

Mr. Pierce was born July 12, 1939 in Bay City to Lee M. and Jedie Chiles Pierce and he died Sept. 12, 1992 at Matagorda General Hospital

He was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Palacios, a lifelong resident of Blessing, a graduate of Tidehaven High School, superintendent of WCID #5 and a rancher. He was a member of Cecil Lee American Legion Post 649 and the Blessing Volunteer Fire Department.

Survivors include his wife, Yvonne “Tiny” Pierce of Blessing; his father and stepmother, Lee M. “Tick” and Polly Pierce of Blessing; a daughter and son-in-law, Stacy and Joe Wolf of Windthorst; a son and daughter-in-law, Mike E. and Jackie Pierce Jr. of Blessing; two brothers, Lee Hall Pierce and Frederick “Pokey” Pierce, both of Blessing and two granddaughters, Heather and Wendy Pierce of Blessing.

Mr. Pierce was preceded in death by his mother, Jedie Chiles Pierce in 1970.

Pallbearers will be Lawrence Bartosh, John Graff, Jim Davant, Scott Jackson, Earl Foster, Billy Jalufka Sr., Henry Day and Joe Glenn Sliva Sr. Honorary pallbearers are Bobby Hlozek, Fred Everett Rickaway, Tony Alvarado, Ed Armstrong, C. B. Cairnes and Clifton Thomas Sr.

In lieu of the usual remembrances, memorials may be made to the Hawley Cemetery Association.

Arrangements are with Taylor Brothers Funeral Home in Bay City.

The Daily Tribune, September 14, 1992
 



Mary Alice Pierce - Hawley Cemetery
 

 

Copyright 2014 - Present by the Pierce Family
All rights reserved

Created
Aug. 6, 2014
Updated
Aug. 6, 2014
   

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