Funeral services for Billy Joe Pierce are 2:00 P.M., Monday, March 13, 2017 at the First Church of God in Nowata with Pastor Wendell Abbott and Ben Killion officiating.

Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Nowata.

Family will be receiving friends from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., Sunday, March 12, 2017 at Benjamin Funeral Service.

Billy Joe Pierce, longtime Nowata resident, passed away Thursday, March 9, 2017 at his home in Bartlesville. He was born January 28, 1932 to John A. (Jack) and Lizzie Josephine Stevens Pierce in Nowata County.
Bill graduated from Nowata High School with the class of 1951. He and Margie Berry were married on August 31, 1952. They celebrated 65 years of marriage.
On his 21st birthday, Bill was inducted into the U.S. Army where he was attached to the 246th Guided Missile Battalion with the title of Launching Specialist. This project was perfected and tested in the White Sands Proving Ground, New Mexico. He was stationed at FT. Bliss, near El Paso, Texas.
Margie joined Bill and they lived in El Paso for the two years of service. After Bill was discharged, they returned to Nowata and to his work with the City of Nowata. He had started working for the city at eleven years old, mowing the cemetery lots. He continued work with the city for 35 years serving in all capacities often as interim City Manager. After his work for the city, he accepted a job with Keystone Pipe and Supply in Nowata. He later worked for Benjamin Funeral Home. Bill ended his working career as Maintenance Supervisor at Tri-County Technology Center, retiring on his birthday, January 28, 1994.
Bill was an active member of First Church of God in Nowata, where he served in many positions. He also was a member of Nowata Lions Club, Nowata Volunteer Fireman, American Legion, and Nowata County Retired Educators. Bill was a fourteen-gallon blood donor for American Red Cross until his health declined.
He loved working with his livestock and always had a small herd of cattle and hogs. He actively supported the Nowata County Fair and FFA projects.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents. Three brothers, Otis F., Kellis M., John W., also three sisters, Lela Ann Collier, Beulah Grace Collier, and Dot Lorraine Epperson.

Surviving are his wife Margie, daughter Nancy and husband Robert Wall, son David Pierce and his wife, Shari and son Don Pierce and his wife Sabra.
Ten grandchildren including Staci Nicole (Nicci) Davis and her companion Steve Mayhew, Bryan James Hindman and wife Angela, Lucas Ryan Pierce and wife, Michele, Beth Hindman Conley, Tyler Lee Pierce and wife Carissa, Dallas Scott Hindman and wife Chandra, Lacy Dawn (Pierce) Berryman and husband Jacob, and Gentry Dene' Pierce, Stephanie (Wall) Pafford and husband Chad and Cody Wall.
Twenty-eight great grandchildren including Brennen and Braxton Davis, Paige and Peyton Mayhew, Jarrett and Bradleigh Hindman, Mason, Abby, Emma, and Olivia Weiss, Isaac and Avery Pierce, Lillie, Blake, Jake, and Gracie Conley, Warren and Lydia Pierce, Pierce, Aubrey, and Harper Hindman, Jaxyn, Jersey, and Thomas Grey Berryman, Jachin Pierce, and Heavenly and Richard Vega and Avery Edwards.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Benjamin Funeral Service. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemories.com. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation in Mr. Pierce's honor to The American Legion or the Nowata Fire Department.