COLERAIN – Almond Ray Pierce, 69, of the 2900 block of Wakelon Road, died Wednesday, August 5, 2009, at Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville.

Mr. Pierce was born in Bertie County on September 10, 1939, son of the late George Almond and Bessie Perry Pierce. He was a member of Colerain Baptist Church. Ray worked with the Bertie County ASCS office from 1960 until 1980 and was owner and operator of Pierce Farms until his retirement in 2004.

He enjoyed the outdoors and many outdoor activities, including tennis, water skiing, hunting and fishing, and in his later years found much pleasure in riding his motorcycle. Ray was a loving husband, friend, and good neighbor, always putting others needs before his own, and he will be greatly missed.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Shirley Harrell Pierce.

A graveside celebration of life service will be held on Friday, August 7, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. in Highland Memorial Gardens, with the Rev. Don Roberts officiating. The family will receive friends at Garrett-Jones Funeral Home from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, and other times at the home. Flowers are welcome or memorial donations may be made to Colerain Baptist Church, 202 N. Main Street, Colerain, NC, 27924 or to Colerain EMS, P.O. Box 397, Colerain, NC, 27924.