Lillian Rae Pierce

Our beautiful mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt was called to her eternal home on March 10, 2025, in Silver Spring, MD. She was 94. Born July 13, 1930, in State Center, IA, she was affectionately known as Rusty by all who loved her.

Rusty had a special love for sports, music, and education. A proud Army brat, she attended several different high schools, where she shared her cheerleading talents at each one. She went on to earn a B.S. in Physical Education from the University of Maryland, where she was also an active member of the Delta Gamma Sorority, sang with the choir, and performed with the Gymkana Troupe. Her passion for teaching led her to work as a P.E. teacher, school nurse, child care director, and vocational/technical high school instructor.

Always with a smile and a penchant for silliness and song, Rusty loved people and her children even more. She was an active volunteer at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church for nearly 30 years where she also sang with their choir as their trusty alto. After retiring, she continued to share her beautiful voice at Anona United Methodist Church in Largo, FL. She cheered for the Washington Redskins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and never turned down chocolate-covered peanuts.

Rusty’s memory lives on with her children Ron Pierce (wife Cathy) of Silver Spring, MD; Linda Bartone (husband Mike) of North Port, FL; daughter-in-law Jeanne Pierce of Salt Lake City, UT; her sister Polly Christiano of Seminole, FL; five grandchildren, Michael, Jessica, Lily, Katie, and Henry; and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her son Michael Pierce and her sister Jean Davidson.

A memorial service to honor Rusty will be held on May 24, 2025 at 11:00 am at St. Stephen Lutheran Church at 11612 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD. She will be interred at Sylvan Abbey Memorial Park in Clearwater, FL. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund (https://curealz.org) in lieu of flowers.

As you continue to worship Jesus in heaven with your song, dear mother, your voice will always be heard in our hearts.