June 30, 1939–August 8, 2020
After 13 and ½ years, Cap’t Jack Pierce got tired of waiting and came for his bride...
Carole M. Pierce passed away on August 8, 2020, after a brief illness. Carole was born June 30, 1939, in Olympia, WA, to Mildred and Antonio Frare, their only girl. She grew up tough, and worked from the age of 12 in restaurant kitchens to help out her mother. From that time on, she loved to work with the public and went on to become first a cocktail waitress, then a bartender, pull tab dealer, and bingo worker. Carole was a gorgeous woman, tall and willowy. She was always impeccably dressed, with her hair perfectly coiffed and lipstick in place.
Carole met the love of her life, Jack Pierce, in Westport, WA. They married in 1977 and he brought her home to Blaine, where they bought a little house from Bud and Aleta Dodd. She quickly shifted gears and went to work with Jack on his boat, as a cook and deck hand. She adopted quite a few of the deck hands as her “sons” and mothered them like her own.
During the winters she tended bar at several local watering holes. Her house was always noisy with laughter and cuss words, her coffee pot was always on, and she was always ready for company. She had an encyclopedic knowledge of old movies and dirty jokes, both of which she collected. Carole loved games of any kind, and took trophies in local cribbage and bowling tournaments.
In 1993, Carole and Jack added another job to their resume, as grandparents. She loved being Grammy to her only grandchild, Sierra. We just taught the child not to repeat any of Grammy and Grampy’s more colorful words at school!
Carole was preceded in death by her beloved, John K. Pierce; her mother Mildred; father Antonio; stepmother Aleua; and her oldest brother Vernon. She is survived by her cat and best friend Milo; daughter Stephanie (Keith) Pierce Sandercock; granddaughter Sierra Pierce and her man Benjamin Moore; older brother Chester Frare; and baby brother James (Charla) Fox; plus numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family.
At Carole’s request there will be no services. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Carole’s name to Banner Bank Blaine, for the addition of a plaque to Cap’t Jack’s memorial bench at Blaine Marine Park.
