Len Emmerson Pierce

Graveside funeral services, with military honors, for Len Emmerson Pierce, 86, of Strafford, Missouri, will be held at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, December 13, 2014 at North Belton Cemetery in Belton. Visitation will be Friday from 6-8 P.M. at Dossman Funeral Home in Belton. Mr. Pierce died Thursday, December 4, 2014 in a Springfield, Missouri hospital. Mr. Pierce was born to Robert and Minnie Myrtle Green Pierce in Berlin, Illinois on April 29, 1928. He served proudly in the United States Marine Corps for 33 years, retiring with the rank of CWO4 on September 30, 1980. He was a veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He was the recipient of many military awards, including the Good Conduct Medal with 5 stars, American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal with 1 star, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 8 stars, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with combat V, Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palm and frame, Certificate of Achievement, Bronze Star with combat V, and the Purple Heart Medal. Following his retirement from the Marine Corps, he was employed with McDonnell Douglas Aerospace Corporation for 15 years, and was the contract negotiator for the International Space Station. Mr. Pierce married Beverly Crandell on November 4, 1972 in Fort Myer, Virginia. He was a Lutheran. Mr. Pierce is survived by his wife, Beverly Crandell Pierce of Pikeville, North Carolina; two sons, Jack Pierce of Belton, Texas and Alex Pierce of Pleasanton, Texas; one daughter, Chris Hoffman of Pikeville, North Carolina; one brother, Merle Pierce of Decatur, Illinois; and three grandchildren. Dossman Funeral of Belton is in charge of arrangements.