Carl Raymond Pierce

Carl Raymond Pierce passed away on May 24, 2008 at Three Rivers Community Hospital. Private Interment was held at Granite Hill Cemetery A celebration of his life will be held on August 21st., 11:00 AM at Riverside Park Gazebo. He was born in Grants Pass on August 21, 1931 to Russell and Ruby Pierce who built, owned and operated the Piper Drive In on Redwood Highway. Carl was the last of the Rogue River Wild and Scenic "pioneer river guides." He and several river guides cleared the way for future trips in drift boats fishing for Steelhead, Salmon and trout. Growing up in Grants Pass he worked at local lumber mills and the US Forest service planting trees. He also re-cut the trail for the Illinois River going toward to Oregon coast. He worked for Josephine County, Polk County and the State of Oregon as a predator control officer for several years. He loved to fish the Rogue and truly knew every mile of it from Gold Hill to Gold Beach, but his real love later became fishing for Large and Small Mouth Bass in the area lakes, ponds and rivers. Hunting was another passion for Carl and using a bow became his favorite because it brought him closer to nature and was more of a challenge than the traditional rifle hunt. Among all his outdoor activities, he also liked to prospect for gold and even wrote an e-book giving away his secrets. Carl simply could do anything he set his mind to doing, and would do it well. He never met a stranger in all of his 76 years, and he always seemed to have an infinite supply of humor and laughs. He had compassion for others and his goal was to share with them the Gospel story of the Son of God. He attended church and conducted home bible studies, and also wrote a book about the story of Ruth. He is survived by his wife Janet Pierce of Sunny Valley OR, his Brother Kenneth Dean Pierce of Meridian California, sons Russell Pierce, Michael Pierce, Clayton Pierce, and Thomas Pierce of Grants Pass OR, daughters Elizabeth Pierce of Grants Pass OR, and Deana Lattimer of North Bend OR, ten grand children, and five great grand children. He was preceded in death in 2001 by his grandson Travis Pierce of Grants Pass.