Maurice "Mike" Pierce was born June 6, 1926, in Medford, OR, the second child of Clarence C. and Myrtle Hillis Pierce. Following the death of his mother when he was 9 months old, his father married Marjorie Allison, who along with his father, raised him.
He attended Roosevelt Elementary School and Medford High School. After graduating in 1944, Mike was inducted into the US Army, receiving his basic training at Fort Lewis, WA and then serving as a medic at Fort Simmons Army Hospital in Denver, Co. He began working for his uncle Archie at Pierce Freight Lines in the trucking industry at an early age, later dedicating his life to Christian Ministry. He graduated from San Jose Bible College in 1956, enjoying his college years as a member of the quartet "Heaven's Harmonaires." The quartet traveled all over the United States during the summer of 1954. He met his future wife, Jean Shroll, during the summer of 1954 in Portland, OR, and they were married August 31, 1955 at Central Christian Church where Mike served as the Youth Minister. Mike also served as Youth Minister to congregations in Napa, CA, and Bell Gardens, CA, prior to serving as minister of the Christian Churches in Weott, CA and Sheridan, OR. He also served with his family as a missionary in Brazil for approximately 7-1/2 years. He lived for several years in Wallowa County, Oregon, where he was the Terminal Manager for Sites Silver Wheel Freight Company and active in the Enterprise Christian Church, in the 1960s. Mike's first priorities in his life were his faith and his family. In whatever work he did, his first considerations were sharing the gospel and caring for his family. In 1988 he returned to driving, and he ended his vocational life driving over the road, pulling triple trailers for Delta and Reddaway Trucking Companies. Throughout his busy and active life Mike enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and traveling with his wife and family. Following his retirement, Mike and Jean lived in Enterprise, Canby and Turner, Oregon.
Mike is survived by his wife of 60-plus years, Jean; their children: sons, Ron of Katy, Texas; Jon of Vancouver, WA, Tom of Falls Church, VA, Don of Canby, OR and daughter, Bonnie Smith of Salem, OR; as well as, daughters-in-law, Linda, Vickie, Lynda, and Lori Pierce; and son-in-law, Darin Smith. Also surviving are his sister, Sharon Blackburn of Gold Beach, OR; fourteen grandchildren; and numerous great and great-great grandchildren. Mike was also a father figure to Bob Lawrence when they lived in Sheridan. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Maxine Applebury; and brother, Marlin Pierce.