Tammy Rene Pierce

Tammy Rene Pierce, 53, died Tuesday, April 8 at her home in Temple, TX surrounded by family and friends. Tammy was born September 28, 1961 in Dayton, Texas to Howard Lee Pierce and Alice Marie Tharp Pierce. Born with Down Syndrome, Tammy blessed and inspired all who knew her from the day she was born until the day she died. Her legacy of unconditional love for everyone and total commitment to Jesus Christ will impact lives for decades. She started school in Houston at what at that time was known as the Harris County Center for the Retarded. The next year her family moved to Alief, a growing community on the southwest side of Houston, where she and several other students were the first to attend the district's first special education class. She adored her teacher, Mrs. Bennett, and enjoyed school. As the district grew, the special education department expanded to meet the needs of the students. Tammy joyfully embraced every opportunity to learn, to participate in Special Olympics, to keep up and sometimes surpass her sisters. In June of 1984 Tammy graduated from Elsik High School. In a private graduation ceremony in her home, Tammy received her diploma from the president of the AISD school board. Her sister Debby was already attending Houston Baptist University and living on campus. Then sister Amy left home to attend Baylor University in Waco. Shortly after Amy moved to Waco, Tammy asked her Mom and Dad a simple question: "I am the oldest kid in this family! Why am I still living at home?" After carefully considering the few options available, we moved her to the apartment building on the campus of the Harris County Center in Houston. She worked at the Sheltered Workshop on campus and enjoyed the many activities offered to the residents both on and off campus. Occasionally she had time to fit her parents into her schedule and would come home for the weekend, but most of the time she preferred being with her friends. In 1988 her Dad was given the opportunity to help open and staff a new Texaco office in Los Angeles, CA. Her parents bought a house in Valencia, and Tammy moved to LARC Ranch, a nearby residential facility for mentally handicapped adults . The residents who were able were transported to jobs in the nearby communities. One of the jobs Tammy loved most was at McDonalds at Magic Mountain. In 1995, when her Dad's health required he take early retirement, Tammy asked to remain at the Ranch rather than move back to Texas with her parents. She did not want to leave her home, friends or boyfriend. They understood but knew it was not an option because caregiver/ Mom could not be in two places. In 1995, when her Dad's health required he take early retirement, Tammy asked to remain at the Ranch rather than move back to Texas with her parents. She did not want to leave her home, friends or boyfriend. They understood but knew it was not an option because caregiver/ Mom could not be in two places at one time. That transition time was very difficult for Tammy, but the joy of having extended family nearby helped greatly. After her Dad's death in 2008, she and her Mom moved to Temple. Again, she bravely made another difficult adjustment as her Mom searched for ways to help her. Tammy loved becoming a member of the Joy Class at First Baptist Church in Temple. She loved continuing to be a part of the Sewing Circle that met each Wednesday at Val Verde Baptist Church, and she made latch hook gifts for everyone she knew. And as long as she was healthy enough, she loved road trips to her sister Amy's house in Texas and plane trips to visit her sister Debby in Tennessee. Until Alzheimer's Disease destroyed her physical and mental health, Tammy wholeheartedly embraced life and inspired everyone with her heroic efforts to keep on keeping on. "It pleased God, who set me apart from my mother's womb and called me through his grace, to reveal his Son in me that I might announce Him as the Gospel." (Galatians 1: 15- 16) Memorials may be made to Joy Class of First Baptist Temple or to Blue Skies Ministries c/o Forever Families, PO Box 7368 Knoxville, TN 37921. Visitation will be today, Friday, May 10 at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home in Temple, TX from 6-8 pm. Funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church Rogers, TX at 1:30 pm, with graveside service to follow at Val Verde Cemetery.