John Curtis Pierce

John Curtis Pierce

August 10, 1935 – September 16, 2026

John Curtis Pierce, 91, a longtime resident of Myrtle Creek, Oregon, passed away on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, in Grants Pass, Oregon.

John was born August 10, 1935, in Buckeye, Arizona, to John Curtis Pierce Sr. and Roma Anna Murphy Pierce. His father passed away in December 1936, when John was just sixteen months old. Growing up during the Great Depression and World War II years, John spent much of his childhood and adolescence in Arizona, including the Prescott area.

An active young man, John participated on his high school's golf, rifle, and basketball teams. His interest and talent in marksmanship would remain an important part of his life.

Following high school, John served in the United States Army during the 1950s, stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. He was a member of an Army rifle team and recalled competing in and winning military marksmanship competitions.

On July 7, 1962, John married Linda Joan Cromeans in Las Vegas, Nevada. They became the parents of four children: Christopher Scott, Douglas John, Darren Patrick, and Jana Marie. The family lived in Arizona before establishing roots in southern Oregon.

John devoted 34 years to CP National Telephone Company, serving the Tri-City area of Douglas County, Oregon. Throughout his career, he worked as a telephone installer, cable splicer, and central office repairman, helping install and maintain the equipment and connections that kept the community's telephone service operating.

For much of his career, John lived less than half a mile from his workplace and walked to and from work each day. He became a familiar sight in the community, making his daily trek in his work boots. Neighbors and acquaintances often remarked on his dedication to walking and staying physically active, a simple habit he maintained throughout his working years.

An avid and accomplished outdoorsman, John enjoyed hunting and fishing throughout his life. He pursued virtually every type of wild game and game birds in season, trained bird dogs, and fished for just about anything that swam. A lifelong firearms enthusiast and skilled marksman, John seemed to have a gun for every hunting season and a passion for every opportunity the outdoors offered. From the hunting fields to the rivers and lakes of the Pacific Northwest, the sporting life was an enduring part of who he was.

John made his home for many years in Myrtle Creek and the surrounding communities of southern Oregon. His lifetime spanned more than nine decades, from the Great Depression and the early expansion of telephone service to the modern digital age. His experiences reflected the changing times and the generations of Americans whose work helped build and maintain their local communities.

John was preceded in death by his father, John Curtis Pierce Sr. (1906–1936); his mother, Roma Anna Murphy Pierce (1907–1997); his former wife and the mother of his children, Linda Joan Cromeans Pierce (1942–2006); his sister, Cora Etta Pierce (1930–2016); and his son, Douglas John Pierce (1963–2020).

He is survived by his children, Christopher Scott Pierce, Darren Patrick Pierce, and Jana Marie Pierce, as well as grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family.

Among the youngest members of his family is his great-granddaughter, Rosalie Grace, born September 4, 2026, just twelve days before John's passing. Her arrival marked the continuation of another generation in the Pierce family.

Funeral services were held on Monday, October 5, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the VA Memorial Gardens in Roseburg, Oregon, under the direction of Mountain View Memorial Chapel.

John's story lives on in the memories of those who knew him and in the generations of family who follow.