In Loving Memory

I know it has taken me a while to get this post up. In some ways I haven't wanted to, and I have been waiting to get pictures to post, but I still feel like I needed to. On December 15th, 2009, our world came crashing down around us. My mom, GInger Lee Dallas Pierce, died. She had suffered so many health problems, including: breast cancer, a rare degenerative retinal disease (AZOOR) which robbed her of her sight slowly over the last 12 years, anxiety, depression, hyperchondrianism, chronic pain, as well as several other illnesses. Over the past year, her health had declined dramatically.

But I don't want to focus on the pain and suffering which caused her death, but on the wonderful and loving mother, wife, and grandmother she was! I had always been so proud of her! Until the last few years, she was full of life! She loved life! She also loved being a mother, wife, and grandmother. She grew up in Fillmore,UT, the fourth of five children born to Lloyd and Millie Dallas. She loved growing up in a small town, and talked about her experiences there so often. She was proud of her hearty pinoeer stalk, especially her great-grandfather, Reuben McBride, who settled Fillmore. She was very outgoing and involved in so many groups, including FHA, FBLA, and cheerleading during high school She was the valedictorian for the Millard High School graduating class of 1969.

She then attended Utah State University on scholarship. She was a member of the Aggiettes, and started out as a math major, but turned to communicative disorders her sophomore year. She met my dad, James Kenneth Pierce, in the spring of 1971. They were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend in a psychology class. They dated for six weeks and were engaged. My grandfather told my dad when he asked for her hand in marriage, that my mom couldn't get married unless she finished college. So, rather than get married right away, they were engaged for 13 months, before being sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple, June 2, 1972. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in Communicative Disorders from Utah State, and then went on to complete her Master's degree in the same field.

Both she and my dad were able to find positions working for the Alpine School District, where she completed 33 years before retiring in 2005. She then went back to work for the district after retiring, as a speech consultant, and would observe the new speech pathologists and give them feedback. That even became to difficult for her though, and she quit in March of 2009.

She was such a devoted and loving mother! She wanted to give us as children, every opportunity to develop talents and abilities. She was at every baseball, basketball, soccer game, and wrestling match, along with dance competitions, piano recitals, and choir performances. She also served diligently in her callings, and toward the end of her life, I knew that it was so hard for her not physically, emotionally, and mentally able to serve in church callings, because she truly did enjoy it, and taught us by example that you serve when asked. She was very compassionate and showed a tender heart to all. She was so proud of us, as her children! She was always telling people at work or in the ward about all we were doing.

She loved being a grandmother! She called each one her "little angel". She loved spending time reading, playing, baking, sewing, coloring, tending, and traveling with her grandchildren. She was able to make each grandchild a special blanket when they were born. Whenever she would come for a visit, she would hold the grandchildren's faces so close to hers so she could see them and try to embed their little faces into her memory, because she wouldn't know if she would be able to see them the next time she came for a visit. one of the last family trips we took with she and my dad was to Disneyland just before Christmas of 2007. She wanted to make it a fun experience for our children, and never complained about it being too hard for her to see, even when we were at the park late in the evening.

I miss her so much everyday, and try to emulate her as a mother and speech-langauge pathologist. I am so proud to be her daughter! Through all of this, I have a new profound knowledge and the love our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ have for each of us. I have an increased testimony of the Plan of Salvation. I know my mother is with us in spirit, and I can feel her presence near. And although hard it may be, I know I will see her again, and just try to be like her as a mother to my children.


Her funeral was one of the most beautiful I have ever been to! The music was absolutely wonderful! William Vernon's rendition of "I Wonder When He Comes Again" and "Where Can I Turn For Peace" was truly inspired! I thank our dear friends in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for singing another favorite hymn of my mother's, "Consider the Lilies." It was so beautiful, and I know my mother was smiling, because those were two of her most favorite hymns. The dress we were able to find for her was an absolute miracle, and beautiful on her! I know the circumstances of her death were quite traumatic, but I know that she is at peace, and does not want us to mourn for her. She is no longer in her extreme pain and suffering. I was with her the last 3 hours before her death, and I treasure those moments of sweet conversation and last final hug from my mom. I know she loves our family so much, and we loved her!

I do wish she were buried a little closer though. We buried her in Fillmore. It has been hard not to go to her grave site often. I haven't been back since the day we buried her. I know some days it would've helped with the grieving, but I am truly thankful for a wonderful husband who has been such a strength to me, as well as wonderful friends, to help get us all through this. Thank you! And Mom, I will always love you!