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Sally J. Pierce, 89

1928-2017

Sally was born in Coeur d’Alene, lived in Dalton, Coeur d’Alene, Fernan City and Hayden, and then returned to Coeur d’Alene where she passed away April 22, 2017, shortly after her 89th birthday. Because of her long tenure in the area, Sally knew much of its history and she loved to share her knowledge with others; she was most proud to call herself a “true Idaho native.”

Sally graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School and remained active in attending, planning or hosting reunions over the years. She met Jack Pierce soon after his return from the South Pacific after World War II; Jack was the love of her life. During their nearly 60 years of marriage, they enjoyed so much together: raising their two daughters, building the first all-electric home in the area way back in the 1950s, enjoying the great outdoors with family, friends, or just the two of them, RV camping, traveling internationally and “snow-birding” to the Southwest for many years.

Sally worked as a homemaker until her girls were teens; then she entered the part-time workforce at KVNI radio and served as clerk for the city of Fernan, retiring from that position after 20 years. Sally excelled as a homemaker: cooking, cleaning, baking pies (especially apple and lemon meringue), preserving fruits and vegetables from Jack’s garden, sewing clothes for her girls and tackling all other jobs required to maintain a home for her family. Sally’s sewing skill later evolved into her passion as she created wedding dresses, fabric dolls and animals, embroidery and intricate quilts; she especially enjoyed making whimsical quilts or wall-hangings for her friends’ babies. Sally also enjoyed genealogy; she taught herself to become computer-literate so that she could research her ancestry and help build an extensive family tree.

Sally’s other activities included Order of Eastern Star, Coeur d’Alene Community Theatre, Toastmistress Club and 4-H leadership teaching sewing (what else?). Her many skills and talents led her to participate as a contestant in the Mrs. Idaho contest in the early 1960s.

Along the road of her wonderful journey, Sally met and befriended many people who appreciated her stories, jokes, wicked sense of humor and strong personality; she will certainly be missed by many who knew her. She leaves behind not only family but many old friends--residents at Leisure Park in Hayden, and many new friends--staff and residents at Legends Park Assisted Living in Coeur d’Alene.

Sally is survived by her children, Teri Pierce and Kathy Pierce; her brother, Dean Dingler, his wife Crystal and their children Ken, Curtis and Elizabeth; and brother-in-law Jim Pierce, his wife Kate and their children Toby and Eric. Sally’s parents, Arthur and Florence Dingler; and Sally’s beloved husband, Jack, preceded her in death.

In lieu of flowers, Sally would have appreciated donations in her name to the following charities: Disabled American Veterans Service Trust (www.dav.org) (877) 462-2838, Friends of KSPS (www.ksps.org) (800) 735-2377, or Museum of North Idaho/Fort Sherman Chapel at (208) 664-3448.

We are honoring Sally’s request for no services; her ashes will be placed next to those of Jack so that they may be together once again.

Please sign Sally Pierce’s registry and view her online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.