John "Ralph" Pierce, Sr., age 80, of Peonia, passed away, Monday, March 18, 2024, at his residence.

He was born January 21, 1944, in Hart County, to the late Lawrence and Sarah Ellen Grant Pierce. He was a member of Saint Anthony Catholic Church and retired as a construction worker for Hall Contracting after 42 years of service. Everyone that spent any time with Ralph knew that he loved to be in his garden, planting flowers or playing with the grandkids. When company or his kids came over, they always had to take a trip to see his garden, grape vines or flowers. He loved to tell stories of his time on the job sites and could watch Westerns all day long.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Arthur, Earl and Ernie Pierce and one grandson, Robbie Pierce.

Ralph is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joyce Irene Shain Pierce and their eight children, Juanita (James) Basham, Jennifer (Bruce) Quire, John (Tara) Pierce, James (Wendy) Pierce, Jessica (Jeromy) McClure, Joseph (Corinna) Pierce, Justin (Katrina) Pierce and Jayce (LeeAnna) Pierce. Also surviving are eighteen grandchildren, Kayla (Jim) Cooper, Steven (Tabitha) Quire, Alishia (Chris) Weeks, Heather (Ben) Journay, Joshua (Kiersten) Quire, Dalton (Anissa) Pierce, Taylor Pierce, Lillie Pierce, Samual McClure, Christian McClure, Shayna Pierce, Sarah Pierce, Lukas McClure, Blake Pierce, Candice Pierce, Jorja Pierce, Bruce Pierce and Jay Pierce; ten great-grandchildren, Brayan Weeks, Andy Weeks, Silas Brown, Natalie Quire, Bayne Basham, Micah Weeks, Wrenley Quire, Luca Weeks, Birdie Cooper and Maisie Pierce; three sisters, Carolyn Harp, Sue Lambert and Mary Clemons and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral mass will be held at 11 AM (CDT), Friday, March 22, 2024, at St. Anthony Catholic Church with Rev. Brandon Williams and Rev. Brian Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Anthony Church Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 PM (CDT), Thursday and from 9 to 10:30 AM (CDT), Friday at Rogers Funeral Home in Clarkson.

Prayer service will be held at 6 PM, Thursday at the funeral home.

In lieu of the flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the St. Anthony Catholic Church, 1256 St. Anthony Rd. Clarkson, KY 42726 or Sparrow's Mission, P.O. Box 4329, Frankfort, KY 40601; these can also be made at the funeral home.