Royce A. Pierce

Royce A. “PawPaw” Pierce, 59, of Jonesboro, died Saturday, April 17, 2010 at NEA Baptist Hospital. He was a lifelong resident of Jonesboro and a member of the Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church. He served his country in the US Marine Corp during the Vietnam War and retired from the 875 National Guard Engineering Battalion. Royce was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife of twenty-eight years, Sharron, of the home; son, Jeff Prestidge and wife Christie; daughter, Tonya Harris and Joseph Willbanks; all of Jonesboro; grandchildren, Monica Harris, Michael Harris, Brayden Prestidge, Madeline Prestidge, Brodey Prestidge, and Caroline Prestidge.

Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at Emerson Memorial Chapel with Brother Graig Stull and Brother Gary Gipson officiating and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Burial will follow at Pierce Cemetery with Jeremy Gibson, Jimmy Gibson, Chris Austin, Joe Pierce, J. D. Mays (on behalf of George Pierce), and Ronnie Pierce serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Dawayne Glasco, Bob Kinnett, Michael Austin, Gary Woods, Frank Burnett, Ronnie Scott, Larry Jones, G. W. Pierce, and Danny Pierce.

Special thanks to Dr. Carroll Scroggin and the staff of the Oncology Unit at the NEA Clinic.

For those wishing to leave lasting memorials, the family request you please consider the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718, in hopes of finding a cure for Pancreatic Cancer, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, and help Kids Hunting for a Cure.

Visitation will be from 5-7 Monday night at Emerson funeral Home.