Howard Pierce

Howard Pierce Howard passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on May 26th after a brief but serious illness. Howard was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on September 9, 1936. His mother, Virginia Cates, moved the family to Long beach, CA in 1940. She married Harry Dunn who, as a career Naval Officer, moved frequently spending time in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and California. Howard started high school in Norfolk, VA and finished high school in Mission Bay, CA. After high school, Howard joined the Army and served from 1954-1958 in Europe and the U. S. After his military service, Howard received his commercial pilot’s license and flew for TWA for a few years until he found his true calling as a regional sales representative for many different companies including 3M, Coleman, and National Chemsearch. Howard met his wife, Gretchen Hult, in 1969 on an airplane flying from California to Boise, Id. Both were on business trips, Gretchen for Boise Cascade and Howard for the Coleman Co. After many weekend trips from Portland to Boise, Howard married Gretchen in December, 1970 and moved to Boise where they raised their children, Eric and Hailey. While living in Idaho, Howard started his own electronics distribution company, Clear-Com Distributing, dealing primarily in CB radios which were in high demand in the mid-seventies. In 1985, Gretchen’s father died and the family needed to return to her home in Eugene, OR to manage the Hult family business. Again, Howard started his own company, Northwest Fleet Service, which he owned and managed for many years. Howard was an avid bass fisherman and fished in tournaments throughout the Western states. He was successful enough to be named Oregon Bass Master of the Year, an honor which he was quick to point out when he was having a particularly bad fishing day! Howard retired in 1998 and, in addition to fishing, took up wood working and spent many years making beautiful and exotic pens for his friends and relatives. Howard was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He never missed a school play, athletic practice, game, or event. His family always came first and he treasured his time with his children and grandchildren. His love for children and his own experience growing up, led him to help found the Boys and Girls Club of Emerald Valley, his passion since its inception. Howard is survived by his wife Gretchen, son Eric (Nicole), daughter Hailey Altamirano (Luis), as well as his son Michael (Linda) and daughter Karen Daniels (from a previous marriage residing in England), and his 11 grandchildren. His sisters Patricia Oldham and Eleanor Jean “DD” Adamson and his brothers Melvin and Harry Lee Dunn also survive him. Please join the Pierce family for a reception and viewing celebrating Howard’s life at the West Lawn Funeral Home at 225 S. Danebo on Saturday, June 3, 2017 from 2:00-4:00. In lieu of flowers, please send tax-deductible donations to the Boys and Girls Club of Emerald Valley. Arrangements entrusted to Musgrove Family Mortuary. Please access the obituary and you are invited to sign the guestbook at musgroves.com