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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life lived with joy and purpose drew to a close |
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with the passing of Dewey Edward Pierce of San Angelo on August 9, |
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2023, at the age of 94; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Orville Winston Pierce and Ethel Irene |
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Adams Pierce, Dewey Pierce was born in Becker, Mississippi, on |
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March 7, 1929, and he grew up with three brothers, Junior, J. C., |
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and Thomas; during World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy with |
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his older brother, adding a year to his age on the application |
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because he was only 17; he proudly served as a machinist mechanic on |
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the USS Hooper Island auxiliary ship in Japan; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Pierce's tour of duty ended in 1947, and he |
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borrowed $100 from his uncle to move to San Angelo for a job |
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building the dam on the north side of town; there he met the love of |
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his life, the former Veva "Vicky" Lee Balkum, and after a |
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three-month courtship, they wed in the town of Miles on September |
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15, 1950; early in their marriage, they traveled to Alabama, |
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Indiana, and Mississippi as Mr. Pierce looked for employment; they |
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lived with his parents while saving up for their return to San |
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Angelo, where he launched Pierce Paint Company in 1952; with skill |
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and diligence, he earned a reputation for excellence, and he |
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mentored many painters over the years, preparing them to go off on |
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their own; he decided to step away from his business at the age of |
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75, but one of his former employees asked to hire him, and he |
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continued to set the standard for younger workers for nine more |
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years until his retirement; and |
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WHEREAS, A valued member of Immanuel Baptist Church, |
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Mr. Pierce served on numerous committees and assisted in many |
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projects, and he was named a Deacon Emeritus; in his leisure hours, |
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he enjoyed bowling, but his favorite pastime was playing poker and |
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other games with his treasured family; he and his wife shared a |
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fulfilling relationship until her passing in 2016, and he was |
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devoted to his daughters, Janis and Sandra, and to his five |
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grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; loyal, kind, and |
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playful, he brightened the days of those around him with his |
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signature jokes and contagious laughter; and |
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WHEREAS, Although Dewey Pierce is deeply missed, his zest for |
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life will remain a source of inspiration to all who were privileged |
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to share in his love and friendship; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory |
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of Dewey Edward Pierce and extend sincere sympathy to the members of |
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his family: to his daughters, Janis Baucom and her husband, Jim, and |
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Sandra Love; to his grandchildren, Joshua, Kasi, Pierce, Jade, and |
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Krystee; to his great-grandchildren, Aidon, Celes, Kadin, Matthew, |
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Riley, Rogue, and Adalyn; and to his many other relatives and |
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friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Dewey |
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Pierce. |