David L. Pierce

David Lee Pierce was a part of my life before I can even remember. I was born in April of 1938 to H.L. and Addline Pierce in Kirksville, Missouri. I joined two brothers both who still resided in the home. My older brother (Almost 19) was William David Pierce.

My mother returned to her Sullivan County residence near Greencastle, Missouri with a new baby girl. Much to her surprise she was also greeted with a new daughter-in-law. While she was hospitalized, my older brother, William David Pierce, had eloped. His new wife was a young girl, Mildred Louise Brown Pierce. My mother now had a new baby girl, and a new young daughter-in-law.

To this union was born almost one year later, March 2, 1939, a tiny tiny baby boy, David Lee Pierce. Born so tiny, he slept in a small dresser drawer for the first few weeks of life. Thus, David Lee became a part of my life when I was not quite a year of age.

When David was quite young, his parents, William David and Mildred Brown Pierce separated and divorced. Mildred also gave birth to another son, Richard, and a daughter Cecille.

Eventually, David came to live in our home permanently. His father was stationed in Germany. It was war time. His birth mother was a distant part of his young life. His actual care givers were his beloved paternal grandparents, H.L. and Addline Pierce. Although I was his aunt, and he was my nephew, we were more like brother and sister.

Eventually David's father, William David, remarried. Ruth (Watkins) McNett became his new stepmother and David's home was now with his father and very "pretty" (David's own words) new stepmother.

During William David and Ruth's marriage, a daughter was born, Rita Faye Pierce. David Lee was so proud of his new baby sister.

This marriage also ended in divorce. David Lee returned to again make his home with his paternal grandparents at Lawson, Missouri.

He graduated from Lawson High School in 1957.