Jessie Mabel Pierce

In life there are two paths, you can either make choices for yourself or wait for opportunities to come along and allow your life to choose for you. Jessie Mabel Pierce made her own opportunities and, with a desire for something better, she chose what her life would become and let nothing get in her way. As Jessie's son Bill put it, "Don't mess with Jess." It was that same fire that drove her determination that also drove her vivacious personality and competitive spirit. She always believed that if she worked hard and took risks that she would succeed, and that she did. She led a rich life, full of loving family, many great moments, and countless memories. Nestled deep within the hills of Tennessee not far from the banks of the Buffalo River, sits the community of Smith Holler. A holler, or hollow as folks not familiar with the term might say, is a valley settled between two hills, usually with a stream or river near, and quite often a place where families gather together to make a home. And that is exactly what George and Margie Smith had done in the place that became known as Smith Holler. George and Margie's daughter, Nancy, married a man named Alfred Lawrence and together they began raising a family in Smith Holler. At the dawn of spring, on March 18, 1915, the couple's fourth child, Jessie Mabel, was born into the world. With flaming red hair, young Jessie was feisty right out of the gate. Possibly the result of being born right in the middle of nine other children, she loved to tease her siblings, her cousins, and her grandparents. And if ever she suspected she was in trouble, she would often run away to avoid the punishment. Swinging on the grapevines and building make believe houses out of rocks, life in the holler was a young girl's playground. By the depression era, farming, the way of life for Jessie's parents, had turned south and hard times fell on the valley. Jessie and her sister Stella earned money doing housework and baby-sitting so that they could attend school. Although these odd jobs were in addition to her daily chores on the farm, education was very important to Jessie and worth the extra work. On the farm, she was often assigned to care for the cows and sheep and by the time she reached her teens, she was practically an expert at raising livestock. With her expertise and competitive nature, she even raised prize winning chickens for the 4-H extension service. Just as the depression was beginning to subside, Jessie earned her diploma from Hickman High School in southern Kentucky in 1938. Over the next few years she took college courses, first enrolling at Murray State College and then at Baptist Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. But with a large family and jobs in the valley scarce, Jessie and her sister Stella decided to head north where it was rumored that work was available. On money borrowed from their older sister Hazel, Jessie and Stella set out on a bus to seek their fortune in Muskegon, Michigan. With her dream of becoming a teacher taking a backseat to the necessity of earning a wage, Jessie began a career at Muskegon Piston Ring. Not long after coming to Michigan Jessie had set her sights on the man she was going to marry. While on a group date that included her sister, Stella noticed the handsome man with the black hair, but after pointing him out to Jessie it was all over. Jessie always found a way to get what she wanted and quickly retorted, "No, you can't have him. I have a date with him." The rest, as they say, is history. Jessie and the handsome black haired man, whose name was William Clyde Pierce, were married on September 14, 1942. Together she and "Dub" or "W.C.", as many called him, had one son they named William Clyde, Jr., after his father. There were now two very lucky men living and eating in the Pierce household as Jessie was a fabulous cook. She made sensational fried chicken, pork chops, and green beans, and for dessert, black berry cobbler or one of her famous pies. She could also can and lined her shelves with row upon row of veggies and fruits. Jessie's home was a welcoming place where the coffee pot was always on and ready for family to gather. The television was always on as well and, in the evening, tuned to Johnny Carson. No matter what she was doing, at home, at work, or in the classroom, Jessie worked hard. She never lost her desire for knowledge and continued to take courses over the years at Muskegon Community College, University of Michigan extension, and Western Michigan University. If something was important to Jessie, she found a way to make it happen. For years Jessie was a member of the VFW Auxiliary and the worker's' union at Muskegon Piston Ring. But after 30 years working along side of her sister-in-law Margie, Jessie finally retired and set her sights on more leisurely pursuits including traveling, going to horse races, gardening, and playing bingo. Her tote was always full of daubers and ready to go. Known as "the bingo queen" Jessie never turned down a night of playing bingo. She was also committed to her grandchildren who lovingly referred to her as "grannie." Even as Jessie battled cancer and underwent many surgeries, she had the spirit of a fighter and refused to let the illnesses get the best of her. Following one of her surgeries, she got out of bed and took the grandchildren to California for a vacation at Disneyland. After three battles with cancer, Jessie finally succumbed to her health, but not after living a rich and full life. She worked hard, took risks, and found a way to make her life what she wanted to be, and along the way earned the love and respect of her family and friends. With family by her side, Jessie Mabel Pierce, age 91, died on Sunday, May 14, 2006. Surviving are 1 son, William C. (Gloria) Pierce, Jr. of North Muskegon; 2 sisters, Stella (William) Pohl of Muskegon and Hazel Flowers of Tiptonville, TN; 4 grandchildren: William Carl (Melissa Hodge) Pierce of Maitland, Fl, Andrew Max (Mary) Pierce of Davenport, FL, Sally Ann (Marc) Leissner of Pflugerville, TX and Kristine Marie Pierce of Fremont, MI; 1 great grandson, Andrew Hunter Pierce, son of Andrew 1 great granddaughter, Grace Kelly Ann Leissner, daughter of Marc sister-in-law, Francis Bacus of Chicago, IL; many nieces & nephews; and very special friends, Janet Robinson & Marcia Pierce. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William C. Pierce; 2 sisters: Oma Anderson & Louise Matthews; 5 brothers: Thomas, George, Alonzo, Obe & Clyde Lawrence. A service will be held on Friday, May 19, 2006, 11:00 AM, at the Clock Life Story Funeral Homes -Muskegon Clock Chapel, with Pastor Terry Fulk and Chaplain Terlouw officiating. Interment will be at Sunrise Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held on Thursday, 5-8 PM & Friday, 1 hour before the service. Please visit Jessie's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a memory, sign the online guestbook, or view the Life Story Digital Film. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or Heartland Hospice.