Brent Ferrall Pierce

BURLEY - Brent Ferrall Pierce, 64, left his home in Burley, Idaho, to return to his Heavenly Father on Sunday morning, Dec. 7, 2014, after a six-year battle with cancer.

He was born on June 19, 1950, to Ferrall Melvin and Esther Ellanora (Quaschnick) Pierce in San Mateo, Calif. He was the fourth of seven children. He earned his Eagle Scout as a teenager and later served an honorable mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Minnesota-Manitoba Mission. Brent graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in elementary education. He married Beth Ann Wayment (Wrigley) in 1974 and had one son, Joshua. In 1979, Brent married Debbie Jo Prather in the Provo Utah LDS Temple. Together, they had three children, Eric, Jenny, and Todd. Brent and Debbie made their home in Burley from 1986-2014.

Brent enjoyed the outdoors more than most. He taught his children and grandchildren to appreciate the wonders of God’s creations during camp-outs, scouting adventures, and scooter rides through the mountains. He showed his love for family by teaching Christ-like qualities through his righteous example. Every day he expressed to his wife, children, and grandchildren how much he cared for and loved them. He demonstrated this love by attending their extra-curricular activities and by serving them with countless fixer-upper projects.

In addition to his interests in his family, the outdoors, and BYU football, Brent had a passion for serving his fellow-man. He was a 100% home teacher, visiting the homes of the sick and lonely with a contagious smile and fun sense of humor. He volunteered at the Mini-Cassia Care Center where he made brothers and sisters of the residents with his frequent visits. Brent had the unique ability to speak to anyone, anywhere, as if they had been friends since birth.

His children remember that one of his greatest teachings was, “You need to return things that you borrow in better condition than they were prior to you borrowing them.” But he did not just apply this principle in borrowing tools from a neighbor, he left the campground cleaner and with more fire wood than he found it. He left a person feeling uplifted and happier prior to his encounter with them. He left the world a better place by his presence therein.

Brent served faithfully as the High Priest secretary for the Burley 7th Ward in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He magnified many other callings such as ward mission leader, Scout leader, Sunday school president, and Primary teacher. Brent indexed thousands of names and enjoyed genealogy. He was often found in the temple doing temple work.

His close friends and family teased him of his OCD tendencies but, he argued it was OCO instead of OCD (obsessive compulsive ORDER). You would never find a dandelion in his yard, a crumb on his carpet, or a bug on his windshield. Those who know him best, know he lived his life attempting to be perfect, even as his Father in Heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48).

He is survived by his eternal sweetheart, Debbie; his children, Joshua (Megan) Wrigley of Pocatello, Eric (Kiley) Pierce, Jenny (Russel) Jensen, and Todd Pierce all of Burley; his brothers, Leroy and Kurt Pierce; sisters, Colleen Green, Bonnie Washington, and Jeannine Collette; and eight grandchildren, Tanner, Ethan, Logan, and Emily Wrigley; Kinsley, Aila, and Becklyn Pierce; and Russel Jensen.

Brent was preceded in death by his father; mother; and older sister, Carol Pierce.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Burley LDS 3rd and 7th Ward Church, 2200 Oakley Ave., in Burley, with President G. Chad Jones presiding, and Bishop Brent Winn conducting. Burial will follow at the Pleasant View Cemetery in Burley.

Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 9:45 until 10:30 a.m. at the church.

The family expresses their sincere appreciation to the staff at the Huntsman Cancer Center, MISTI, and Intermountain Hospice for the compassionate care given to Brent.

Those who wish may share a memory through facebook at www.facebook.com/piefambrent