Alfred Pierce Obituary

Former Cortez resident Glenn Pierce passed away Sept. 11, 2014, in Frederick, Colo., after a heart attack. He was 83. Glenn was born July 5, 1931 in Durango, son of Alfred and Aileen (Funk) Pierce. He attended school in Durango until moving to New Orleans with his parents when his stepfather, Dr. I.E. Maxwell, enlisted in the Army after Pearl Harbor.

After the war, they moved to Cortez. Glenn graduated from Montezuma-Cortez High School in 1948 and attended the old Fort Lewis College at Hesperus for two years. He married Donna Lee Jones in 1950, and they celebrated their 63rd anniversary in August.

Glenn also served four years during the Korean War, and served on the USS Hailey. After the war, Glenn and Donna returned to Cortez, and he attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins. He later taught auto mechanics in Cortez.

Glenn was president of the American Legion and played Santa at Christmas. He taught Little League baseball and was instrumental in placing the tower on Menifee Peak. Glenn was an avid jeeper and a founder and president of the Four Corners Jeep Club. A photo of him driving Black Bear Pass in Telluride was the cover of the first issue of the Four Wheeler magazine. Many other covers and stories in the Four Wheeler featured him leading the club. He also opened many trails in the Canyonlands including Elephant Hill and Angel Arch.

In 1973 Glenn and Donna moved to Boulder, Colo., where Glenn taught auto mechanics at Boulder Valley Vo-Tech. When Glenn retired he and Donna moved their home to Mesa, Ariz., in the winter and Fredericks, Colo., in the summer.

Glenn is survived by wife Donna; sons Donald of Livermore, Calif., Robert (Lyddia) of Salt Lake City, Steven (Pam) of Louisville, Colo.; daughter Traci McCrumb of Ortonville, Mich.; granddaughters Lindsey (Matt) Burningham of Salt Lake City, Mari and Allie Pierce of Louisville, Colo., Kelsey Pierce of New York City; and grandsons, Ryan (Devon) Pierce of Salt Lake City, Brady Pierce of New York City; and great-grandson Lucas of Salt Lake City. He is also survived by his mother, Aileen Maxwell of Cortez; sisters Maridell (Ronald) Price of Farmington; Marissa (Howard) Kaime of Cortez; brother Thomas (Jaylene) Maxwell of Montrose; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Clifton Alfred Pierce; aunt and uncle Dorothy and Jim Tanner; and aunt Gladys McBee.

A military service was held on Sept. 17,2014 at the Fort Morgan National Cemetery, Denver.