Douglas Clyde Pierce, the eldest son of Jerry and Gladys Pierce was born in Linclon Nebraska on Oct. 15, 1960 and died near Geneva Neb. in a tragic vehicle accident on Jan 14, 1995.  He moved to Faribury with his parents when he was five years old.  He was baptized in the Christian Church in 1971.  He received his elementary education in the Fairbury Public Schools, graduating from high school in 1979.  Following graduation he worked at various jobs in Nebraska and California.  He was united in marriage to Michelle McMullen on June 8, 1991.

    While growing up he became interested in horses and learned how to ride and rope.  He was involved with 4-H and the Little Britches Rodeo.  In 1976, he and Larry Morehead competed in the National Finals Rodeo, where they took second place in team roping.  In 1985, he joined Monty Montana's Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and performed with the show during a tour of northern Japan.

    During the period from 1991 to 1994 he worked as a welder for Hoover, Inc. at Beatrice.  In 1993 he enrolled at Southeast Community College in Beatrice, going to school during the day and working nights.  On Dec. 15, 1994, he graduated with an AAS degree with livestock option.  At the time of his death, he was to begin a new job as a meat inspector for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

    At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife Michelle; son Allan; daughters Nicole and Holly; parents Jerry and Gladys Pierce; all of Fairbury; brothers Charles and his wife Angie of Dakota City; and T.J. of Lincoln; grandmother Grace Peters of York; parents-in-law Carl and Maryanne McMullen; other relatives and many friends.

    Services were held on Jan. 18, 1995, from the Fairbury United Methodist Church, with the Rev. James McChesney officiating.  Music was provided by Patricia Ruhnke and Jeremy Schroeder.  Burial was in the Fairbury Cemetery.  Pallbearers were Larry Morehead, David Weeks, Pat Kujath, Craig Person, Tony McMullen, and Tom Duis.

This picture of Doug's children was taken in 2002. Holly was 10 and Allan was 14