Thomas Scott Pierce

Funeral services for Tom Pierce will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at the First United Methodist Church in Gillette with Pastor Burry Bessee officiating. Visitation will be held an hour prior to the service at the church. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 15, 2011 at the Dawson Memorial Cemetery in Glendive, Montana with Military Honors provided by the Glendive Veteran's Honor Guard. A luncheon will be served at the Moose Lodge in Glendive following the committal service. Gillette Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements.On December 8, 2011 Thomas S. "Tom" Pierce passed away peacefully at home after a courageous battle against cancer. He was surrounded by his loving wife, daughter Juli & special friend Darla Patterson. Tom was born on October 16, 1939 in Glendive, MT to George & Margaret (Bidwell) Pierce. He grew up in West Glendive, attended Washington grade school & graduated from Dawson County High School in 1957. He went to Dawson Community College for two years and the University of North Dakota of one year. He joined the National Guards in 1957, went through basic training in Fort Ord, CA and was activated in October 1961 during the Berlin Crisis. He spent a year of active duty in Fort Riley, KS. On September 12, 1960 Tom married Lyla Morey of Richey and they were married for over 51 years. They had two children, Scott & Juliana. They lived in Glendive where Tom worked for Western Oilwell Service for 20 years. From 1963 1966 they lived in Baker, MT & then returned to Glendive until 1984 when they moved to Dickinson N.D. In August 1980 Tom went to work for Hampton Engineering consulting in the oilfield. After moving to Dickinson he continued to work with Roy Hampton as a pumper. In 1989 he went to work for himself & he & Lyla moved to Gillette, WY in January 1991. Tom took his oilfield knowledge to Mongolia for 3 months in 1995 for an experience of a lifetime. He would retire from the oilfield business in October 2009. Tom enjoyed spending his spare time fishing, hunting, bowling & golfing. He had the honor of being the oldest person to bowl a 300 in Gillette in November 2005. He would go on to bowl two more 300 games. He loved his wife & kids and adored his three granddaughters. They were his pride & joy. He is survived by his wife Lyla of Gillette, son Scott (Annette) Pierce of Missoula, daughter Juli Pierce of Gillette, his three precious granddaughters; Kennedy & Cassidy Pierce of Missoula & Spencer-Madison Pierce of Gillette, one brother John(Carol) Pierce of Glendive, MT, one sister Alice Pierce of Great Falls, MT, brother-in-law Chuck (June) Morey of Lake Havasua, AZ, 8 nieces & nephews and special family friends Mark, Monty & Erica Schumacher along with many close friends & additional family. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, older brother George and 3 nephews.In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a donation to the Gillette Memorial Hospital Cancer Center Oncology Department. Donations and condolences can be sent in Tom's name to Gillette Memorial Chapel, 210 W. 5th St., Gillette, WY 82716 or condolences via the internet at www.gillettememorialchapel.comFuneral Home:Gillette Memorial Chapel210 West Fifth Street Gillette, WYUS 82716