He was born Jan. 19, 1922, in his family home at 243 River St, the son of Alpheus B. Pierce and Lottie L. Baily.
Leird graduated from Oneonta High School in June of 1940.
He married Jacqueline Hanley of Katonah, on June 29, 1946. Leird and Jackie were lifelong residents of Oneonta.
Leird worked for the D&H Railroad when he and Jackie were first married and, in 1952, he purchased the local John Deere farm machinery dealership. He sold the dealership in 1965 and became a licensed master plumber and started a residential and commercial construction company. He also owned and managed a number of rental properties in Oneonta.
Leird was an avid reader and especially enjoyed history books on the Civil War.
Leird retired in 1998. He spent his retirement years at his camp property on Mac Dougall Hill Road and enjoyed his hobbies of photography and woodworking in his shop.
Leird and Jackie traveled extensively throughout the East Coast in their conversion van and spent several summers entertaining their granddaughter, Christine.
He was predeceased by his wife, Jackie; and sister, Lorraine (Pierce) Holowach.
He is survived by his son, John T. (Cheryl) Pierce of Jones, Oklahoma; granddaughter, Christine Jeanne (Ryan) Preda of Greensboro, North Carolina; and great-granddaughter, Elli Nicole Preda of Greensboro, North Carolina. He is also survived by his niece, Lorraine (Holowach) Keller of Pipersville, Pennsylvania; and nephew, Nicholas Holowach of Oneonta.
Visitation for family and friends will take place from 1 to 3 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 14, at the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, 14 Grand St., Oneonta and will be followed by a gravesite prayer service and interment in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.
Condolences to the family may be made online at www.grummonsfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home of Oneonta.
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