Ronald Pierce (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Ronald Edmund Pierce was born October 7, 1943, near Dry Knob, Missouri to Edmund Pierce and Roby Myers Pierce. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Saturday, April 18, 2026, in his home in Lebanon, Missouri. He was eighty-two years, six months, and eleven days of age.
Ronnie was born and raised in Laclede County and graduated from Lebanon High School in the Class of 1961. He went to work for Bishop Furniture Company and H.D. Lee for a few years. He then became employed as a civil service employee at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. During his time there, he held positions in various departments including the Reception Station, Meat Plant, 1101, and Post Engineering before retiring as a heavy equipment operator after 28 years of service.
With time on his hands and his history with Gasconade School, where he attended as a child and later served on the Board of Directors, he decided to become a school bus driver. His love for the students was evident. He was known to make occasional stops at the local store where he made sure every child came back on the bus with a treat. After
twenty-five years, he was presented with a plaque giving special recognition for his time there.
In the summer of 1962, Ronnie met the love of his life, Judy Aileen Murrell, at a music party, and they went on their first date to church the very next day. They were married on June 16, 1963. Together they supported each other and created many wonderful
memories for nearly sixty-three years.
Ronald is preceded in death by his parents, Edmund and Roby Pierce; his brother, Gary Pierce; his sister-in-law, Elaine Breakfield Pierce; and his Brother-in-law, William Armstrong.
He is survived by his loving wife, Judy; three daughters, Angela Blankenship and her husband Tim of Grovespring, Missouri, Celisa Scott and her husband Kevin of Springfield, Missouri, and Rashonda Adams and her husband Michael of Lebanon, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Beau Harris and his wife Beth, Austin Harris and his wife
Jenna, Jesse Blankenship, Christina Daniel and her husband Cody, Megan Thompson and her husband Wyatt, Jonathon Adams and Caleb Scott; seven great-grandchildren, Craten, Callie, Titan, Maverick, Willow, Stetson, and Cohen; one sister, Judith Armstrong of Lebanon, Missouri; many nieces, nephews and cousins; his church family
and friends.
When Ronnie was in Elementary School, J.L. Stone came and presented the gospel of Jesus Christ with flannelgraph, and Ronnie accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. He had been a good and faithful servant since that time, serving as Deacon of Crossroads Freewill Baptist Church for fifty-eight years. He had been blessed with the ability to touch others with the quiet gift of healing when needed and was always willing to share his faith, and the power of the blood of Jesus throughout his life’s ministry.
He supported his wife, Judy, in her music ministry with the New Life Quartet and The Gospel Echoes as the sound technician and driver for forty years.
Ronnie also enjoyed serving on the Crossroads Cemetery Board, caring for the cemetery and its history. He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, gardening, and had a talent for using and repairing heavy equipment. He enjoyed capturing nature through the camera lens and gazing through the telescope at the stars and all their wonder.
Ronnie cherished his wife and family. He was a caring and dependable neighbor and friend. Ronnie was a good, honorable man who trusted God with all his heart and worked hard at all he did. There are no words to convey the sorrow we feel at his absence in our lives, but there is great joy knowing we will see him again someday.
Funeral services for Ronald Pierce will be Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 2 p.m. at Crossroads Freewill Baptist Church. Visitation will be Friday evening from 5 - 7 p.m. at Holman-How Funeral Home. Burial will be in Crossroads Cemetery.
A memorial to Crossroads Cemetery has been established and donations may be left at the funeral home.
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