Edmon “Eddie” Bryan Pierce

Edmon “Eddie” Bryan Pierce passed away Tuesday, May 1, 2018. Family and friends will gather to celebrate his life of 93 years on Friday, May 4 at 2 PM at Neil Chapel at Carillon Senior Living Center in Lubbock, Texas. Graveside services will be on Saturday, May 5 at 2 PM at Marfa Cemetery in Marfa, Texas. 

Eddie was born on September 25, 1924, to Norris and Fannie Bryan Pierce in Rockwall, Texas. After graduating from Rockwall High School, Eddie helped his father on the farms. He then bought and ran a grocery store in Chisholm, Texas. On November 19, 1944, Eddie married the love of his life, Wanda LaRue in Garland, Texas. Due to his asthma, Eddie needed to live in a dryer climate, so he, Wanda and their daughter Jan packed up their 1946 Ford pickup, headed West to find a place to live, and came across Marfa–which they called home for the next 69 years.

After several different jobs, Eddie opened Highland Car Corral in Marfa before buying the Ford dealership in 1956, which he ran until switching to General Motors in 1982. He and his sons ran Pierce Motors until it sold in 2005. He and Wanda also built and operated the Thunderbird and Holiday Capri Motels and Apache Pines RV Park. They moved to Lubbock, Texas in 2015.

Eddie served on the board of Marfa National Bank and was a member of the Lion’s Club and First Baptist Church in Marfa. Eddie was awarded Marfa’s Man of the Year award in 2005. 

Survivors include his wife, Wanda Naomi Pierce; children, Janice Cano and husband, Eddie; David “Bee” Pierce and wife, Wanda; eight grandchildren; Aaron Cano and his wife Jessica, Robert, Allena, and Charles Cano; Eric Pierce and wife, Melissa; Lucas Pierce and Cal Pierce; and Jennifer Murdock and husband, Rick; and five great-grandchildren, Caroline Pierce, Ayla, Anika, and Lucas Guerra; and Hayden Murdock; extended family, Lem and Lois Pierce; Ken and Nila Bryan; Bill Sue Davis; and Mary Sue Bryan.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Norris Henry and Fannie Ruth Pierce; son, Edmon Bryan Pierce, Jr., who died on November 26, 1995; and grandchildren Amy Lee Pierce and Phillip Warren Pierce.