Marie Louise Pierce
Age 94, of Lansing, MI, passed away on Thursday, August 21, 2014. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbur John Pierce, and her son, Michael Allan Pierce. She leaves behind her daughter, Julie Ann Pierce, and granddaughter, Maureen Pierce Hudson.
Marie was born on May 9, 1920 in Tampico, Mexico, and spent the first three years of her life there. Political upheaval in Mexico forced the family to move back to the States and they ultimately settled in Alexandria, Virginia. Known amongst her circle as “our Hollywood movie star,” Marie’s striking good looks caught the eye of Bill Pierce and they were married on January 24, 1942. After the war, Marie and Bill moved to Detroit and then to Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. They spent many happy years there before relocating to Edenton, N.C. in retirement. Bill died in 1984 and Marie continued living in Edenton, as her son, Michael, and his wife, Melinda, had moved from California to North Carolina to be closer to her. With Michael’s death from adrenal cancer in 2010, Julie moved Marie to Lansing.
Marie was the kindest and most generous of people. She had a passion for ballet, sewing and needlework, and jewelry. She will be dearly missed by family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 19, 2014, at Christ United Methodist Church, 517 Jolly Rd., Lansing. In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to commemorate her memory is asked to send donations to: University of Michigan Millie Schembechler Adrenal Cancer Fund, UM Comprehensive Cancer Center, Office of Development, 2800 Plymouth Road, Building 100, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800; Christ United Methodist Church, 517 Jolly Road, Lansing, MI 48910; Edenton First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 138, Edenton, NC 27932. Arrangements by the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel.
2 Messages to “Marie Louise Pierce”
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Maureen Pierce Hudson
August 26, 2014 at 4:04 pmRest in Peace, to my wonderful loving grandmother. I’m happy you finally free though you will be missed.
Molly Jahn
September 7, 2014 at 4:00 pmDear Julie and Maureen (although Maureen, you will absolutely not remember me–I only knew you when you were a very small baby)
Julie, thank you for sending me your mother’s obituary and letting me know of her passing. She was such a haven for me growing up, more than I ever understood at the time, and the very nice times you and I had playing and playing and playing are some of the nicest memories of my childhood. I am considering trying to come for her service because I am in transit that day anyway, and could swing through Detroit by air on my way east to a family wedding the next day. I would likely arrive in DTW about 11, rent a car and come to the service (1 hour 20 min google maps says) and then go back to DTW to catch an early evening flight. My email is: mjahn@wisc.edu and phone is 608-514-2043 although I will be out of the country til this coming Friday after about 9 PM tonight and this number won’t work). What do you think? It would be meaningful to me to pay my respects and bring my thanks for your mother’s many years of kindness to me and to reconnect with both of you even so briefly.
My thoughts are with you both, Molly