Faye Iola Gifford Pierce, 95, of Alpha, died Wednesday, August 12, 2009, at the Vinton Lutheran Home following a brief illness.
Memorial services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, August 22, 2009, at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton with Rev. David Vannetten officiating. Private inurnment will be in the Alpha Cemetery at a later date.
Faye was born March 14, 1914, in Alpha, Iowa, the daughter of William and Nina Cummings Richardson. Faye was raised in Alpha and lived there until 2 ½ years ago when she moved to her daughter Barbara’s home in Waterloo.
Faye graduated from high school in Alpha and earned her two-year teaching degree at Iowa Normal, which is now UNI. She taught country school near Alpha for two years and was the Postmistress in Alpha for 30 years.
On September 15, 1935, Faye was united in marriage with Kenneth Gifford in Washington State. He preceded her in death on May 18, 1968. She married Harold (Toby) Pierce on February 12, 1975, on Padre Island in Texas. He preceded her in death in May of 2002.
Faye and Toby spent 25 winters on Padre Island in Texas, where they enjoyed fishing. While there, Faye also enjoyed painting classes and spending time with her sisters, Ferne, Florence and Ruvie.
She was a member of the Alpha Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school for many years and was a member of the Alpha Church Adult Group and Booster Club. She was also a member of the League of Postmasters.
Faye enjoyed raising a big garden and freezing and canning many vegetables. She loved having family reunions at her home, going to reunions and family history. She enjoyed cooking and baking, playing cards and Scrabble, and oil painting. She painted many pictures that were given to family and friends. Family was important to Faye, and she especially enjoyed time with her grandchildren.
Faye is survived by two daughters: Barbara Gifford of Waterloo and Becky (Bob) Moen of Vinton; five grandchildren: Mervin (Jane) and Michael (Sheryl) Sires, Sam (Jennie) and Pamela Moen and Peggy (Seth) Somerville; 8 great-grandchildren; 8 great-great-grandchildren; and two sisters: Florence Wesselius of Kenosha, WI, and Ferne Ferguson of Bloomington, IL.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands; one brother, Jim Richardson; and two sisters: Alice Cooney and Ruvie Mahler.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Alpha Cemetery.