William Martell Pierce

William Martell "Marty" Pierce
Was born in Lanier County, Georgia, on December 29, 1934. He passed from this life on October 17, 2008 at Parkview Hospital in El Reno, Oklahoma. Marty was the fourth child born to William Marion "Will" and Arie Mae Stalvey Pierce. He grew up on the family farm outside Lakeland, Georgia, graduated from Lanier County High School and South Georgia College in Douglas with an Associate Degree in Science, majoring in Pre-med. He completed his education at Emory University in Atlanta, serving an internship in Medical Technology at Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta. He was a National and State certified Medical Technologist. He began his career at Thomasville, Georgia. He served in the U.S. Army at the recruiting station in Oklahoma City. After his service, he remained in Oklahoma City. He taught Anatomy at the Oklahoma University Medical School in Oklahoma City. Marty was employed at Baptist Hospital in Oklahoma City, and the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. He was owner of Western Medical Products Laboratory in the early 1960's. He was married to Carolyn Beth Crowe on June 15, 1963, in Oklahoma City and two sons were born of their marriage, William Matthew Pierce and Shawn Andrew Pierce. After leaving the OESC, Marty opened and operated an employment service for medical office personnel, Pierce Personnel Placement. Finding that there was a shortage of people trained for these positions, he founded The American College of Health Careers in Oklahoma City. In 1978 the family moved to Crescent, Oklahoma, where he opened and managed the Family Medical Clinic in Crescent. He later was lab supervisor at Fairfax Hospital, and worked for a short time in Nashville, Tennessee, setting up a satellite school for the new owners. He returned to Lakeland, Georgia in 1988, and moved back to Crescent, Oklahoma, and then El Reno. Marty was a member of the National Association of Medical Technologist, the Oklahoma State Association of Medical Technologists, the NW Oklahoma City AMBUCS, and the United Methodist Church. He gave Leadership to the establishment of 9-11 Prayer Garden located in Roquemore Park. He was a member of the Lakeland United Methodist Church and a faithful member of the Action Bunch Sunday School Class. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Zona Merle Hadsock Siverling, four brothers-in-law, Luther Hadsock, Feeman Yeomans, Cliff Siverling , and Wallace Bradford; two nephews, Lawson Bradford and Larry Bradford. He is survived by his sons, Matthew Pierce of El Reno, Okla., and Shawn Pierce and wife Windy of Canute, Okla., one daughter-in-law, Leann Pierce of El Reno, Okla., and three grandchildren, Shawn Aaron and Wm Tyler Pierce of Canute, Okla. and Sadie Elaine Pierce of El Reno; two sisters, Odessa Bradford and Margaret Yeomans of Lakeland, Georgia, eleven nieces and nephews and a host of great nieces and nephews, cousins and relatives. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 22, 2008 in Lakeland United Methodist Church with Rev. Rich Wright officiating. Burial will follow in the Fender Cemetery. He will be placed in the church 1 hour prior to services. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Tuesday, October 21, 2008 from 6-8p.m. Sympathy may be expressed online at www.musicfuneralservices.com . Music Funeral Services of Lakeland is serving the Pierce family.