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Sonny Earl Pierce, 90, of Elizabethton, Tenn., went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, February 29, 2024, at Hillview Health and Rehabilitation Center of Elizabethton. Sonny was  born in Carter County to the late Earl and Edith Christine (Fair) Pierce. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Emma Wootton Pierce, and his second wife, Shirley Jeannette Wright Pierce.

Sonny was a United States Army veteran, having served in the Korean War, and was a member of Centerview Church of Christ. Sonny had a very strong work ethic and had worked at North

American Rayon Corporation for 25 years and also at Kendall Oil Company. He had also owned and operated Sonny’s Superette Market and had served as a manager of Market Street Gas Station.

Sonny was an avid sports lover and was inducted into the Carter County Sports Hall of Fame in

2017. He had served on the Elizabethton Twins Board of Directors and served as a referee for local teams. Most of all, Sonny loved helping kids in their sports endeavors and being a mentor to them. Sonny was also an accomplished mechanic and enjoyed working with anything mechanical.

Sonny leaves a legacy of remembrance to his son, Christopher Pierce of Elizabethton; his grandchildren, Robert Allen Pierce of Elizabethton and Keshia Ann Pierce Ferguson and husband Don of Nashville; and two brothers, Joel Pierce of Elizabethton and Jerry Pierce of Johnson City.

A service to honor the life of Sonny Earl Pierce will be conducted at 7 p.m. Monday, March 4, in the Chapel of Peace at Tetrick Funeral Home of Elizabethton with Mr. Tony Hoss, minister, officiating. The family will receive friends between the hours of 5 and 7 p.m. Monday in the funeral home chapel, prior to the service. The graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 5, at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Military Honors will be accorded at the graveside. Active pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. Honorary pallbearers will be all officials, referees and coaches in softball, baseball, basketball and football at the high school, junior high and elementary levels. Those wishing to attend the graveside service are asked to meet at Tetrick Funeral Home of Elizabethton at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday to go in procession to the cemetery. Words of comfort and sympathy may be shared with the family by visiting our website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.

Tetrick Funeral Home of Elizabethton is honored to serve the family of Sonny Earl Pierce. (423) 542-2232; Obituary Line (423) 543-4917.