leonpearceLeon R. Pearce was born to Harold N. Pearce and Gladys Eva Norwood Pearce on March 18, 1930 in Ottawa, Kansas. He passed away August 18, 2021. The family moved to Nevada in the late 1930s. Leon was raised in ranching and farming in Yerington, Nevada. He graduated from Yerington High School. After graduating, he worked on several ranches and prior to going into the service he moved to Hawthorne, Nevada and worked as charter a bus driver. 

Leon went into the U S Army in May 1951. He served at Fort Ord, California, Fort Bliss, Texas and White Sands, NM. He met his wife Irma Lee while at a square dance at the Army YMCA in El Paso, Texas in August 1951. They were married on August 30, 1952. Lee, the love of his live passed away on December 24, 2015.

He is survived by three sons, Craig A Pearce (Judy), Brent W Pearce (Sharon) and Noel S Pearce (Cholie), two grandchildren Christopher Pearce and Jennifer Pearce.  He is also survived by a sister, Donna Traver and a brother, Lonnie Pearce.

After being discharged from the service, Leon held jobs with various companies. The family moved to Silver City in 1967 when he started work with Western Gas Service Co. He retired from the Gas Company of New Mexico in 1990. He and Lee operated the Corral Bookkeeping and Tax business which was started in 1975 and was sold in 1998.

Leon called and taught square dancing for many years. Recently Leon started reciting cowboy poetry. He did not write poetry, only recited the old cowboy classics. 

Leon was caller for The Hot Sox Square Dance Club, active in The Copper Country Horsemen, treasurer of The Grant County Sheriff’s Posse, the treasurer of Grant County Humane Society, and treasurer of The Silver City Cowboy Jamboree. He was also active in the First United Methodist Church. He served on many committees at the church. He served twenty-five years as head usher and greeter at the Church. He also served and was secretary eight years on the Council of Finance and Administration of the NM Methodist Conference. He believed that if you were a member of an organization, then you should work with that organization.

Leon was a man of faith and extremely devoted to his family. He enjoyed helping others and working with horses and working around his place.

Memorial services will be at the First United Methodist Church in Silver City on December 18 at 1:00. The Memorial Service will be broadcast on the First United Methodist Church Facebook page. 

Please no flowers. Donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church or to The High Desert Humane Society.

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