Ronald “Ron” Eugene Pierce, 85, passed away on Aug. 1, 2024, in Olympia, Washington. He was born on March 22, 1939, in Hoquiam, Washington, to Erma (Joyce) Bowlin and George Pierce. He spent his early years in Grays Harbor, growing up with his older siblings, Donna and Jim. Ron graduated from Elma High School in 1956.
After high school, Ron pursued a degree in Data Processing at Grays Harbor College. He began his career working for the State of Washington. In 1959, Ron married Judith “Judy” Ann Graham, and they moved to Olympia, where they raised their three children, Doug, Kevin, and Wendi. After a couple of household moves, they settled into their forever home on the waters of Lovejoy Beach in 1969.
Ron loved sports and coached Little League baseball for many years while Judy managed the scorebooks and stats. They were avid supporters of their kids’ sports and activities, and, when not coaching, could be found in the school bleachers cheering them on. Ron maintained his own athleticism throughout his life, playing on various local softball and basketball teams, and running marathons.
Ron was fortunate to retire at the early age of 50 from DSHS in 1989, allowing him to spend the second half of his life enjoying all the things he loved.
Known as Oma and Opa to their grandchildren, Ron and Judy showed the same love and support for their school activities and events. Ron volunteered in some of their classes and refereed their basketball games. As a grandfather, he was known for playing a mean game of pool, throwing rocks off the bulkhead, and taking the kids to hunt for crabs on the beach. Opa was known for his quick wit and dry humor, often playing coy after sneaking the grandkids Lemon Drops or Sixlets chocolates from his “secret” candy pocket.
Ron and Judy were known to their friends for hosting an annual “Milk Can Stew” event for many years at their home, which featured great company, fabulous food, horseshoe competitions, tall hunting and fishing stories, and Judy’s famous wild blackberry cobbler.
Ron was an avid outdoorsman and passionate about deer and elk hunting. He was notorious for loading up his 200-year-old Coleman cooler with a week’s worth of home-canned stews and meats before heading deep into the woods in Grays Harbor, sleeping in the back of his truck on a plywood bunk. More often than not, he would fill both his deer and elk tags, supplying the family with a freezer full of meat. He loved picking wild blackberries every July, enough to keep Judy’s blackberry cobbler production alive for most of the year.
Ron is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years, Judy, in April 2023, and his oldest son, Doug, in July 2019, as well as siblings Donna Decoy, Jim Pierce, Gary Pierce, Sharron Kelly, and Patty Spears.
Ron is fondly remembered by his son Kevin (Kairie) Pierce and his daughter Wendi (Clay) Hill; six grandchildren, Alexis (Michael) Hassler, Taylor (Phil) Pierce, Savanna (Alika) Nee, Spencer Pierce, Mariah (David) Comnick, and Elijah (Jordan) Hill; eight great-grandchildren; and siblings Carol (Tom) Lundbom, Terri Norris, Roberta (Gene) Keel, Gwen (George) Wright, and Gerri (Ricky) Hatcher.
A funeral service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Olympia, Washington, on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, at 2 p.m.
