Maxwell L Pierce (1914 - 2010)

Born 19 Nov 1914 in LaCrosse, Washington, United States

Died 21 Jun 2010 at age 95 in Spokane, Washington, United States

Biography

Obituary

Maxwell L. Pierce, long time LaCrosse grocer, passed away at his home in Spokane on Monday, June 21, 2010. He was 95. Maxwell was born about twenty minutes after he claims to have “booted his twin brother Donald out” on November 19, 1914 in LaCrosse, Washington. His parents were Fayette and Amy (Rudolph) Pierce. As the boys grew up, Max became the stockier of the two and Don the faster – probably because he had 3 bigger brothers. Max used his size in sports, playing football, basketball and as many other sports as he could. For Max, sometimes school came second as his love for sports took up his time. Max lived his young life in LaCrosse, WA with a year in Oakesdale, WA where his father was sent to run a grocery store for a year. Max graduated from High School in 1932. At the time of his graduation from high school, his father Fay and brother Byron were running a grocery store in LaCrosse. Max moved to Spokane to attend Kinman Business School and upon completion in 1933, he moved back to LaCrosse and was the bookkeeper for Guske’s Ford Garage. He worked there for one year. In 1934, Max then moved back to Spokane to work for Washington Trust Bank. He moved, in 1939, to Colfax, WA to work for the Cornelius Oldsmobile Garage as a bookkeeper till 1941. During that time he met Harriet Elizabeth Sherman, who worked for Washington Water Power. Since it was against company policy to have married women working full time for them, Max and Harriet eloped to Asotin, WA and returned home to their respective homes with no one aware that they were married. However after about three months it became too difficult and Harriet told her boss. He told her that because it was the company policy not to have married women working, he would have to fire her. She was perfectly aware that this would happen upon her divulging her marriage b but she didn’t expect what would happen next. Her boss said that he really appreciated her fine work and that when she left that night she would be “fired” however when she came to work in the morning she would be rehired for a day of temporary work and that continued every day for over a year. In 1941, Max and Harriet moved to Endicott, WA and bought the Endicott Grocery Store. However after one year, Max was due to be drafted into the Army and be sent off to WWII, they sold the store and moved to Spokane in 1942. Max went to work for the Fairchild Air Force Base Commissary as a civilian for about one year before he was drafted into the US Army and sent to Virginia for specialist training in clerking. Max served 32 months in France and England and upon his discharge he was rehired to run the Commissary. Max and Harriet continued to live in Spokane until August, 1949 when they bought out Fay Pierce’s half of Pierce’s Grocery and moved to LaCrosse. Max and Bryon moved to their established store on the corner of Main and 3rd where the store still stands. Max became really involved in his community but mostly well known for his self-imposed medical training. He could be seen taking out gravel of a child’s knee on the store counter, pronouncing someone dead at the scene of car and airplane accidents, and racing people to the Colfax hospital in the back of a station wagon. He spent many years on the LaCrosse Fire Department. Max served his community by willingly opening his store on a Sunday to help someone who had forgotten something the day before or by personally delivering groceries around town. He was active in the LaCrosse Lions Club, LaCrosse Gun Club and the Colfax American Legion. He was the director of the LaCrosse Pet Parade for too many years. Max and Byron ran the store until their retirement 1976. With Harriet still working for the phone company, Max needed something to do so he started driving school bus. They moved to Spokane in 1980 and enjoyed many wonderful years there. Harriet died in 1988. Max has lived at the Riverside Retirement Community for many years where he enjoyed being close to family and friends. He is survived by two daughters; Jan Nottingham and her husband Jon of Gilbert, AZ; Lynn Pierce & Jim Schultz of Spokane; two grandchildren and their spouses, Ryan & Elisa Nottingham and Erika & Josh Garney. He is also survived by his nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his brothers and one sister. Graveside Services with military honors will be Friday, June 25, 2010 at 1:00 pm at the LaCrosse Cemetery. The family suggests memorials be made to the LaCrosse Fire Dept. or the LaCrosse Cemetery. On-line guest book is at www.bruningfuneralhome.com Bruning Funeral Home, Colfax, is caring for the family. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ http://www.bruningfuneralhome.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=867912&fh_id=13165