Aug. 28, 1937 – Oct. 6, 2017
James Erwin Pearce, 80, of Sweet Home died Oct. 6, 2017 with his family by his side.
He was born Aug. 28, 1937 in Lebanon to James Percy and Crystal Rae (Vaughn) Pearce.
He served in the United States Navy from 1958 to 1960. He then served in the United States Army from 1960 to 1963.
Mr. Pearce grew up on Rowell Hill. He was a life-long resident of Sweet Home.
He worked in the lumber industry for many years, then worked for Plas Tech Inc. in Corvallis, where he retired. He and his wife attended the Church of Christ.
Mr. Pearce enjoyed going on Oregon Trail treks and doing coastal beach clean-ups. He was a volunteer with Sweet Home Gleaners and the Oregon Jamboree. He loved being with his family.
He is survived by his wife, Billie Irene Pearce of Sweet Home; daughters Mary Pearce of Sweet Home and Diana Pearce of Florida; step-children Rick Ensley, Randy Ensley and Deborah Jonson, all of Sweet Home, Donna Fehrer of Lebanon, and Dianna Huenergardt of Florence; siblings Eldon Pearce and Marilyn Struminskiboth of Sweet Home, Carolyn Bonagofski of Milwaukie, and Cleabelle Dobbins of Port Angeles, Wash.; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mr. Pearce was preceded in death by his father and mother.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, at Sweet Home VFW.
Memorial contributions can be made in his name to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.