Barry Pierce

Barry D Pierce was born on March 12, 1944, in Charlevoix, Michigan, to Dorris and Charles Pierce. He was raised by his mother, Dorris (Struthers) (Pierce) Pearsall and his step-father Claude Pearsall.  Barry was the fourth of five siblings.  He attended Charlevoix schools and graduated from Charlevoix High School in 1962.  In high school he played football, basketball, track and played trombone in the band.  He then attended NCMC and graduated from there in 1966.  He went on to attend Western Michigan University.  While there, he was drafted into the Army in 1968.  He became an E5 Sargeant and was based primarily in Germany.  He headed a tactical group that went to different bases in Europe and set up firing azimuths for Pershing missiles.  He spent a brief tour in Viet Nam setting up missile sites.  Barry graduated from WMU in 1971 with a bachelor's degree in education.  He taught his first year in Traverse City, before accepting a position in the Charlevoix Public Schools.

He taught 8th grade social science in Charlevoix for 27 years.   During that tenure, he coached 8th grade boys basketball and later added 7th grade girls basketball.  He coached Little League Baseball for many summers.  Also, he was the statistician for Rayder basketball games.  He continued doing this for many years, even after he retired.  He instituted the Washington D.C. trip for 8th grade students, and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Because of his army background, his students and friends called him Sarge.  After retirement, he remained involved with students through the Charlevoix Junior Golf Program, where he was a mentor for many years. He also was a ranger at Dunmaglas. He supported many charities throughout the Charlevoix area.  He belonged to the following organizations:  Charlevoix Kiwanis Club, Charlevoix Historical Society, Charlevoix Friends of the Library and the Charlevoix Street Legends Classic Car Club.  He has had a passion for classic Mustangs.  His favorite was his blue 1967 Mustang.  Later he purchased a 1967 classic black Mustang convertible, which he loved.  More recently he indulged in his love of Corvettes.  His first was a 2008 red C6 coupe, followed by a 2016 yellow C7 Corvette convertible.  Another passion of Barry's was golf.  He took up the sport in the early 1970s and loved it.

Barry met the love of his life, Karen Hinds, in 1962 while he was a projectionist at a movie theater, owned by Fred Nelson, in Petoskey.  They met again in 1970, at a pig roast, at the Charlevoix Rod and Gun Club.  After dating, on and off, for ten years, they were married at the Methodist Church in Charlevoix, on August 16, 1980.  They celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary this past summer.  After retirement, they spent winters in Florida.  They currently own a home in the Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club.

Barry is survived by his siblings Clifford (Charla) Pierce, Joy (Jim) Price, sister-in-law Judy (Charles) Pierce, several nieces and nephews, and several great nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, step-father, sister Karen (Jack) Vincent, brother Charles Pierce, a niece and a nephew.

A memorial celebration of life will be held Friday, October 15, 2021, at the Charlevoix Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, from 3pm to 7pm.  We request that you wear a mask due to Covid.  Donations may be directed to the Charlevoix Schools Foundation, the Charlevoix Historical Society, the Charlevoix Friends of the Library or the Marfan Foundation (found at marfan.org).

Arrangements are in the care of the Charlevoix Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.  Please sign his online guestbook at www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com