Edward Pierce

He was born on October 9, 1934, in Junction City, Arkansas. Ed was married to the love of his life, Mary (Jones) Pierce, for 70 and a half years, having wed on June 1, 1955. Their story began at the root beer stand on Washington when Ed and his buddy pulled up next to Mary and her friend. Mary first noticed his beautiful blue eyes—and when Ed later called her, the rest became history. Though he never officially proposed, somehow they ended up married. When he took her to the jewelry store to pick out her engagement ring, it started a lifelong tradition of Mary “buying her own Christmas gifts.” At their wedding, the pastor accidentally said, “Who gives Edward to Mary?”—and Mary has always said that’s why Ed belonged to her ever since.

Together they raised two children, Keitha and David, and built a life grounded in love and faith. Ed began his career at Columbian Carbon, later joining Great Lakes Chemical Corporation, where he was one of only thirteen original employees hired to start the plant. In 1965, he purchased their beloved Three Creeks farm, and by 1971, had built two chicken houses while still working at Great Lakes. In 1978, the Pierces moved into their home on the farm, and Ed transitioned to full-time farming—raising cattle and chickens until his retirement in 1999. After retiring, Ed and Mary spent the next two decades traveling every corner of the United States in their pull-behind camper, finding beauty, friendship, and ministry along the way.

Ed grew up attending a Presbyterian church as a child and came to saving faith in Christ in his early 20s after he and Mary began attending Immanuel Baptist Church. They served faithfully for many years at Parkview Baptist Church, where Ed served as a deacon and helped raise their children in the faith. When they moved to the farm in 1979, they joined Three Creeks Baptist Church, joking that they could never get to Parkview on time but joining their beloved church was one of their greatest blessings. Ed’s faith was not just something he professed—it was something he lived.

He made five mission trips to Brazil, helping build churches for congregations in need. Later, he and Mary took their camper all the way to Canada for mission work. In his early 80s, he served with Bethel Builders, doing construction projects in Oklahoma and Illinois, and his last mission trip took him to Colorado, where he joyfully served meals for fellow mission workers.

Closer to home, Ed was known for delivering boxes of food each week to the town food pantry, maintaining the cemetery grounds, mowing the lawns of “old people” all over Three Creeks, and welcoming anyone to “shop” in his garden. At every opportunity, he would start an offering at church to meet needs as they arose.

And of course, there was his famous peanut brittle and his legendary fried shrimp—by family count, he’s probably served over one million “shrimpses” to friends and loved ones. Ed was deeply proud of his family and lived out his faith daily. He loved the Lord with all his heart and truly took the Christian life seriously—serving, giving, and leading by example in everything he did.

He was preceded in death by his beloved son David Pierce, his mother Nell Pierce, siblings Betty Jo Rawlins and Albert Lee Pierce, He is survived by his devoted wife Mary Pierce, daughter Keitha Davidson and son-in-law James Davidson; granddaughters Lauren Greenhaw (Neil) and Amy Orman (Jeremy); and four great-grandchildren who were his pride and joy — London and Brooklyn Greenhaw, and Pierce and Elliott Orman. His “bonus daughter” Paula Hamilton (Wally), and grandson Charlie and nieces and nephews were also very special to him.

Ed Pierce leaves behind a legacy of faith, generosity, humor, and love — and an example of what it looks like to live fully for God. His hands built, his heart gave, and his life blessed all who knew him.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 10, 2025 at Three Creeks Baptist Church with funeral services to begin at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Dano Rainer and Rev. Lowell Snow officiating. Interment will follow in Three Creeks Baptist Cemetery under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors.

Memorials may be made to Liberty Baptist Association Food Pantry, 912 Mt.Holly Road, El Dorado, AR 71730 or to Three Creeks Baptist Church, 8914 Haynesville Highway, Junction City, AR 71749.