Mabel Lorraine Pierce

Sep. 23, 1923 - May 5, 2016

Date of Service: May 14, 2016

Mabel Lorraine Pierce Mabel L. Snodgrass Pierce

MALTA - Mabel Lorraine Snodgrass Pierce was born Sept. 23, 1923, in Albion, Idaho. She passed away with her daughters and grandchildren by her side in Findlay, Ohio, May 5, 2016. She was the daughter of Ida Jane and J.V. Snodgrass. She attended Albion schools, graduating in 1941. She then graduated with a teaching certificate from the Albion Normal School and taught at the Whittier School in Pocatello. During World War II, she worked at the Pocatello Air Base for two years and attended Grimm’s School of Business in the evenings.

After returning to Albion, she was employed at the D. L. Evans Bank for eight years. Nov. 25, 1953, she married John (Jack) Pierce at the Christian Church in Pocatello. They lived on the ranch in Malta for 53 years.

Becoming the wife of a rancher and cattleman was a different way of life for her, but she took it in stride and took pride in her accomplishments; yard, garden and home. Serving the noon meals to their employees for many years entailed much extra work, but strong bonds were formed between Mabel and Jack and these men, bonds that still exist today. Many hours were spent keeping the books and ranch records. She was an avid reader and winter brought out the jigsaw puzzles. She loved crossword puzzles and had an assortment of them in all the vehicles and various rooms in the house. Every evening she would get out her sewing bag and work on her hand embroidery. She made uncountable numbers of table cloths, dresser scarves and pillow cases. She left a legacy of four embroidered queen-size quilts for her family.

Her pride and joy were her two daughters, Ann and Mary. Later she shared many special times with her grandchildren, Mandy Oman and Tyler Wight. She kept in close contact with her brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews. Family was of great importance to her.

Mabel was a 60-year member of the Naomi Chapter No. 4, Order of the Eastern Star, in Albion, having served as Worthy Matron in 1953 and again in 1970. She also served as Grand Representative of the Grand Jurisdiction of Wisconsin. She served as state treasurer of the Idaho Cattle Woman’s Association and was secretary of the Albion High School Alumni Association from 1987 to 2005.

In later years, she and Jack enjoyed many trips including Australia, Hong Kong, China, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, and many other states. They traveled almost every inch of Idaho.

After Jack passed away in 2006, she moved to Burley and enjoyed many activities at the Burley United Methodist Church where she was a member. In 2012, she moved with Ann to Findlay, Ohio, where she was surrounded by her family on a daily basis. Many Sunday dinners, celebrations, and dozens of ice cream cones were shared there in the past four years.

Mabel is survived by her daughters, Ann (Gale) Wight of Ohio, and Mary Pierce of Pennsylvania; her two grandchildren, Mandy Oman and Tyler Wight; and her three great-grandchildren, all of Ohio. She also is survived by her sister-in-law, Lillian Snodgrass of Livingston, Mont.

In addition to her husband, Jack, she was preceded in death by her mother and father; her two sisters, Grace Leddy and Lucille Mooney; and her two brothers, Jim and Elmer Snodgrass.

At her request, there will be no funeral service. A celebration of her life will be held at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, on Friday, May 13, from 6 until 8 p.m.

Graveside services will be held Saturday, May 14, at 2 p.m. at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Albion, with the Rev. D. Scott Allen officiating.

In lieu of flowers, Mabel asks that donations be made to the Raft River Elementary School library for children’s books or to the Shriners Hospitals for Children in care of Rasmussen Funeral Home, P.O. Box 878, Burley, ID 83318-0878.