Kathleen Schroader Pierce, 91, of Sparta, passed away Sept. 26, 2020, in Sparta.
Mrs. Pierce was born on Jan. 2, 1929, in Chicago Heights, Illinois, to Owen Lee Schroader and Amanda E. Peach Schroader.
As a young girl, in Illinois, she went to school through part of the 11th grade, when she had to stop to go to work cleaning delivery rooms at St. James Hospital, in Chicago Heights, Illinois. In 1981, at the age of 52, in the same year her youngest granddaughter graduated high school, she, too, completed her education to receive her high school diploma.
Throughout 54 years of marriage to her husband, Henry Harris Pierce Jr., she assisted him in several business he operated, in various ways. She also remained primarily a stay-at-home mother for her children, keeping a great home, which was often filled with guests to whom she was a wonderful hostess. If you walked in her door, you were going to be fed in abundance.
In October 1952, she was baptized into the Jehovah’s Witness faith, where she served faithfully until her death. It was in efforts to grow the Jehovah’s Witness congregation that the whole family packed up and moved to Sparta, Tennessee, from Illinois, in November 1971. She always said Sparta was the place she loved the most. In 1981, she moved to Rutherford County, Tennessee, where she lived until she moved back to Sparta, Tennessee, three years ago, with her daughter.
Mrs. Pierce had four children: Rose Alice Pierce Ullom, of Murfreesboro, Steven Harris Pierce, Michael Warren Pierce, and Bonnie Lee Pierce Boyd (Tim), of Sparta.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her sons, Steven and Michael; her two grandsons Ross Ullom and David Irvin Jr.; her brothers, Elbert Schroader and Donald Schroader; and her sister, Hilda McCullough Hughes.
Survivors include her daughters, Rose and Bonnie; brother, Glen Schroader (Don,) of Indiana; sister, Ilene Hermann Klein (Bill), of Illinois; sisters-in-law, Cheryl Pierce, of Kentucky, Billie Bednarczyk, of Illinois; grandchildren, Leah Ullom, of Murfreesboro, Eric (Sharon) Pierce, of Sparta, Kellye (Ken) Pierce Millrany, of Tullahoma, Jennifer (Dan) Pierce Leeds, of Sparta, Krystal Pierce, of Nashville, Alicia (Marari) Pierce Belin, of Nashville, and Jessica (Jared) Unger and Brittany Irvin, both of Murfreesboro; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews.
It was Mrs. Pierce’s wish that there be no services.
Oak Lawn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
