Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

Melvin Ray Pierce, 71, suddenly passed away at his Worland home on April 3, 2024. Mel was born in Alliance, Nebraska on February 26, 1953, one of seventeen children born to Milford Howard and Alice Flossie (Hammer) Pierce.

During his childhood, he used to spend his summers at his grandparents' house in Bellmont, Nebraska, where he worked at their farm and helped with chores. He was a mischievous kid who loved to engage in lots of antics. Hunting and fishing were his favorite pastimes, and he enjoyed exploring the woods around his grandma's house with his brother Terry. He attended Alliance public schools till the seventh grade, after which he obtained his high school diploma through correspondence.

Mel enlisted in the United States Army in 1974 but was honorably discharged for medical reasons following boot camp. His son, Charles, was born the same year.

He married Carolyn June Ainsworth on October 21, 1977, in Worland, Wyoming. They first met while they were both employed at Bethesda Care Center. After a brief stint with Pepsi, they moved to Yuma, Arizona in May 1978, where he worked at an experimental farm and orange grove. It was during this time that their daughter, Christy, was born. They returned to Worland in January of 1980, where he started working at the Wyoming Boys School. In 1984, their son Kyle was born. Later, he worked for Dalanie Irrigation, Ron's Sanitation, and the sugar factory until his retirement in 2015.

Mel was a very friendly person who could talk to anybody and everyone. He was a great man who was well respected by his coworkers, always willing to lend a helping hand. He was a great dad and a son's best friend!

Mel was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Harold, Ronald and David; sisters: Maradean Pierce, Linda Pierce, Wanda Weisgerber, Sherry Pierce, Betty Caldwell, Christene Pierce

Survivors include his wife, Carolyn of Worland; sons: Charles Gerke of Wheeler, Illinois, Kyle Pierce of Worland; daughter, Christy (Philip) Walter of Worland; grandchildren, Hannah and Ethan Walter of Worland, Caitlin (Cordell) McJunkin of Franny, Wyoming, Courtney Gerke of Perkinston, Mississippi, Cassandra (Drew) Wishard of Hutsonville, Illinois; great-grandchildren, Copper Wishard, Dennis McJunkin, Packston McJunkin, Aspen George; brothers, Howard (Donna) Pierce of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Eugene (Linda) Pierce- Spearfish, South Dakota, Terry( Kathy) Pierce of Worland, Jerry Pierce of Ogallala, Nebraska; sisters, Charolette Gardner of Worland, Marilyn (Gary) Moschowsky of Lanesville, Indiana, and Jacqueline Hornkohl of Worland.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Sunday, April 7, 2024 at Zion Church. Visitation for family and friends will take place one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will take place at 5:00 PM at the Ten Sleep Cemetery with military honors provided by the United States Army and American Legion Post #44. Memorial donations may be made to the New Hope Humane Society or the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Ten Sleep. Checks may be sent to PO Box 524, Worland, WY 82401. Online condolences may be made at http://www.bryant

funeralhomeonline.com.