Robert Alan PIERCE December 11, 1933 - February 7, 2004 His was a life well lived. Robert Alan Pierce, known as Bob to family and friends, passed into a better place while he was held in his wife's arms, after a courageous battle with lung cancer, on February 7, 2004.
He will be missed by so many whose lives he touched in his 70 short years.

He was born on December 11, 1933, in Grand Island, NE, to parents Lavere Brissenden and Robert Stanley Pierce. He grew up living in several places throughout the country as his father, a welder by trade, pursued new jobs. The family ended up in Washington in the early 1940's and lived in North Bend, Bainbridge Island, and Seattle.

Bob served in the Navy from 1951 to 1953, with duty stations in San Diego, CA, and Memphis, TN. He carried Merchant Marine papers for his fishing career in the Pacific Northwest.

Bob was employed for 34 years with the Seattle ILWU. He was a supervisor at Terminal 102 in the early 1980s and took over as the Transit Shed Supervisor at Terminal 5 in 1986 where we worked until his retirement on June 30, 2000.

He was a member of ILWU Local 52. Bob was an Envoy member of Beta Sigma Phi. He was confirmed in the Catholic Church on Easter, April 2000, and was an active member in Christ the King Parish, Seattle. Bob loved his family.

He was faithful, loving and gentle. He stood up for what he believed but was considerate to others needs. He did not pursue formal education beyond high school, but was well read and known for intelligence above and beyond many PHDs. He had a love of learning.

He was inventive, inquisitive, and his mind was always trying to figure out new ways to make life easier for everyone. He earned a United States Patent for his invention of a boat/deck cleat.

His interests included boating, reading and travel, among other things. Bob was a great host to out-of-town family and friends. Nothing was too out of the way or too time consuming when it came to showing them our town. He was happy to do it. Bob was easy to be around.

He was patriotic, fair-minded, true to his convictions. He was known for his colorful shirts and loved to wear shorts year round. He was comfortable wherever he was and made others comfortable in his presence.

Bob is survived by his wife of 18 years, Betsy Pierce; his mother, Lavere Prestwich of Everett, WA; two sons from his first marriage, Trevor A. Pierce (Kathy Gadbois) and Evan D. Pierce (Susan Bland) and three grandchildren Nathan Oliver Pierce, Colin Cedric Pierce and Elena Opal Pierce all residing in Seattle, WA; many in-laws, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Bob donated his body to science at the University of Washington . He was generous even beyond his death. A Memorial Mass to celebrate Bob's life will be held on Thursday, February 12, at Christ the King Church, 405 N 117th, Seattle. A reception will follow immediately.

Memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society, the Seattle Group Health Hospice Program, and/or Christ the King Church (405 N. 117th, Seattle, WA, 98133).

Bob was a warm, loving, kind and generous man. We are happy in his memory.