Joan Marie Pierce

Joan M. Pierce, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother passed away on May 27th, 2016, after a long struggle with cancer. Joan was 81 years old. She passed peacefully in her sleep, with her family by her side. Joan lived, and died, in Escalon, CA, but split her time between there and the beautiful mountain scenery of Enterprise OR, where she maintained a second home.

Joan was born in San Mateo, CA, the first of three children born to Frank and Erda (Coats) Valladao, and was raised in Redwood City, CA where she attended Sequoia High School. Shortly after graduating, she met, and married, Garnett Pierce, with whom she raised a family of five children, and recently celebrated 63 years of marriage.

Joan spent her professional career in the title business as an Escrow Officer, retiring after forty years. In retirement, she enjoyed traveling, once driving the length of the Alaska Highway all the way to the Arctic Circle, and fishing. It was not uncommon for Joan to reel in the biggest fish on the boat. She was also a member of the High Wallowa Red Hat Society and enjoyed crafts and cooking, entering many of her creations in the Wallowa County Fair, where she won many blue ribbons.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, sister Bette Deckman, daughter Patricia Solis and son Thomas Pierce, and survived by husband Garnett Pierce, brother Gerald Valladao (TX), sons Michael Pierce (Orangevale) and Daniel Pierce (Modesto) and daughter Lynda Hibner (TX), grandchildren Jennifer Loncaric, Jason Yoder, Brandon Pierce, Tyler Pierce, Thomas Pierce and Rachel Dodge, 7 great grandchildren and numerous extended family members.

Services will be held at Lakewood Funeral Home in Hughson on Sunday, June 5th at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the American Cancer Society are welcomed by the family.