PEARCE, Jimmie Lee "Jim"

PEARCE, TEEN, THURMAN, FRSOT, BAKER, ANGUS, COOPER, MYERS, SCHWEEDLER, GREEN, BROKOWSKI, FRY, MEAD, SCOTT, HAYWORD, LEEPER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 12/22/2013 at 19:33:53

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, December 19, 2013

OBITUARY ~ JIMMIE LEE "JIM" PEARCE
October 25, 1956 ~ December 09, 2013

October 25, 1956, Jimmie Lee PEARCE was welcomed by his parents, Jimmie Henry and Freda Arlene (TEEN) THRUMAN PEARCE and his older sister, Sally. Later he was joined by brothers Keith, David and Randy. He grew up in Ringgold county and graduated from Mount Ayr Community high school with the class of 1975. He helped his family farm and most importantly, learned the value of hard work and family bonds. He enjoyed fixing cars up and hunting with his classmates, Warren ANGUS, Mark BAKER and Doug FROST and friedn Rick COOPER.

On March 10, 1979 he married Charlotte MYERS and they began their journey together. In May of that year he began his working career of 33 years working for the city of Blockton. He retired on June 30, 2012 and continued to enjoy life in the outdoors, spending time with the family, his animals and traveling.

Some of Jim's proudest things were his three children, his four grandchildren, family time and doing the best at whatever he did.

Some of the fondest memories were family gatherings, especially with the THURMANS. The cousins would play games; tease each other or as they got older, go places together. One story that Jim told about was buying a pack of cigarettes for 19 cents (of course, they were for an aunt) and smoking them at the park in Bethany.

Things you might not know about Jim were: He collected shot galsses and butter churns; enjoyed the casino and playing games; was a volunteer fireman for over 30 years; his nickname as White Lightning; his daughter and him went to the yearly Pattonsburg, Missouri car show; enjoyed woodworking; loved to fish and anything outside including raising his animals; never had a speeding ticket; predicted the sex of all three of his children before they were born; believed that duct and electrical tape and baling wire were all you needed to repair anything, and finally, as a child, sang commercials that he had seen on TV while going to sleep.

Jim may have lived a simple life but it was what he enjoyed and what he was . . . a man of few words, dependable, a pillar in the family and community.

When you think of Jim's life, think of a forest. He was a tree. . . He was silently there in the storms to protect them; he was there on hot days to provide shade; he added color to each of their lives and was their strength to hold them up just like the trees and birds. He had family trees; friendship trees and a few fruity and nutty trees. Together they made it work in his forest of life.

On December 9, 2013, after a courageous battle with cancer, Jim left the following loved ones to carry on the family trees; his wife, Charlotte, of 34 years; oldest and namesake son, Jimmie Lee Jr. of Blockton, Iowa and his wife Danielle, and two sons, Hunter and Tucker; son, Gregory Allen of Mount Ayr, Iowa and his two children, Corbyn and Taraleigh, and his daughter, Shondel Kay of Blockton, Iowa; parents, Jim and Arlene of Mount Ayr, Iowa; his "Twin" sister, Sally SCHWEEDLER and husband Paul (Butch) of Pattonsburg, Missouri; nephews, Paul, Jeff and Steven, all of Misouri; brother Keith, and friend Bev GREEN of Murray, Iowa, and nephews, Mike and Holly of Wisconsin and Mark and Tracy of Iowa; brother, David and wife Teresa of Mount Ayr, Iowa and nephew Brandon and niece Megan; brother, Randy and friend Kitty BORKOWSKI of Louisiana and niece Nichole of Kentucky; sisters-in-law, Charlotte PEARCE of Osceola, Iowa and Darlene FRY and husband Doyle of Creston, Iowa; on great-niece, Courtney of Missouri, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends.

Preceding him in death were grandparents Charlie and Elsie PEARCE and George and Tanzy THRUMAN; aunts and uncles Bob THURMAN, Howard and Peggy KERNS, Mary MEAD, May and Wallace LEEPER and Elmer SCOTT, and cousins Donny THURMAN, Roger KERNS, Mary Jane HAYWORD, Louise Jean LEEPER and Brian MEAD.

Each of them were Jim's pallbearers. They will carry on what he taught them in the time they spent with him.

Jim requested that he be cremated and laid to rest in the Rose Hill cemetery in Blockton with a simple service which was held on December 13, 2013. The following songs meant something to Charlotte and the kids so a very and chorus were played: "Riverbank" by Jeff Bates, "See You Again" by Carrie Underwood, "Strong" by Will Hoge and "Drink A Beer" by Luke Bran. Before leaving the cemetery, balloons were released with messages for him. Family and friends then gathered at the Blockton community hall for fellowship.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home in Grant City, MO.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, December of 2013