Marion Chester Pierce

Marion was born January 29, 1930, in Greenville, IL, the son of Chester and Evelyn Smith Pierce. He married Helen Baker in August 7, 1960. She preceded him in death on April 6, 2006.

He is survived by one daughter, Camilla (Jeff) Hempstead of Bloomington; two sons, Chet (Jean) Pierce of Cary, IL, and Chuck (Jeanette) Pierce of Shiloh, IL; one brother, Wayne (Delores) Pierce of Greenville; and five grandchildren, Jessica Hempstead, Jason Hempstead, Alayna Pierce, Alyssa Pierce, and Katie Pierce.

Marion was preceded in death by his parents and his step-mother, Selma Pierce.

His parents owned a feed store in Greenville, IL when he worked from childhood until he went into the Air Force. After the Air force, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Greenville College. He earned his Master’s in Chemistry from Illinois Wesleyan while teaching and raising small children. Marion spent several summers as a research chemist at Pabst Brewery in Peoria Heights. He taught biology and chemistry at Dunlap School District beginning in 1960, the same year he married Helen. He retired from teaching in 1991.

Marion was a member of Prospect United Methodist Church, Dunlap Fire Department, VFW, American Legion and the Kiwanis. He served four years in the Air Force in Germany as a pharmacy technician.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at Prospect United Methodist Church. Pastor Steve Pichaske will officiate. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 pm Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home.

Burial will be in Prospect Cemetery in Dunlap.

Memorials may be made in Marion’s name to Prospect United Methodist Church.

To view Marion’s memorial page or leave an online condolence please go to www.woolsey-wilton.com.