Edwin Albert Peirce, 86, Vero Beach
Edwin “Ed” Albert Peirce, 86, of Vero Beach, died peacefully on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, at Indian River Hospital. Ed was born in Niagara Falls, N.Y., on Aug. 5, 1932.
He and his wife, Judy, moved to Vero Beach from North Tonawanda, N.Y., in 1963.
Ed was loved by all and will be remembered as a kind and generous man. He was a man of honor, character and someone to look up to. He enjoyed “checking in” on the people he loved through phone calls and visits, shared meals, concerts and plays, handwritten notes and lots and lots of prayers. He touched everyone he met and left them changed for the better.
Ed lived at Indian River Estates. He was a past member of the Exchange Club of Vero Beach (ECVB) where he served as Vice President, Treasurer, and member of the ECVB Scholarship Foundation Trust. He received the Exchangite of the Year Award in 1981 and the Andrew Award from the National Exchange Club in 1976.
He and Judy were given the Book of Golden Deeds Award in 2007 for their generosity, dedication and years of service to the Vero Beach community.
Ed was an Elder and a Deacon at the First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach. He served as the Treasurer of the American Cancer Society where he received the Volunteer of the Year Award in 1985. He was a Board Member of the Arthritis Association of Indian River County.
He took great joy in mentoring local youth at Vero Beach High School and Osceola Magnet School where he received the Senior Volunteer Award in 2003.
He is survived by his four children, Dale (Tammy) Peirce, Mark (Robbi) Peirce, Gary (Debbie) Peirce, and Bonnie (Jay) Peirano. He is the proud grandfather to Devin (Brittani) Peirce, Kalani (Bobby) Long, and Makala Peirce, Esten, Treyson, Colton and Hanson Peirce, Melissa and Jimmy Peirce and Zachary, Everett and Nathan Salazar (and their dad, Rene Salazar). His sister and lifelong dance partner, Barbara Bernier, lives in North Tonawanda, N.Y.
Ed’s obituary would not be complete without mentioning his extended family who will miss his daily presence, including sister in laws (Dorothy, Polly and Sharon), nieces and nephews, cousins and many, many, many dear friends.
He is predeceased by his parents Albert E. and Jane C. Peirce, of Vero Beach. Ed’s beloved wife of 60 years, Judy Petzing Peirce, predeceased him in 2012. He is also predeceased by his brothers, Walter and James Peirce; and his sister, Helen Flatau Hoffman.
The family will receive visitors at Strunk Funeral Home, located at 916 17th Street, Vero Beach on Sunday, Aug. 4 from 3 – 5 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 520 Royal Palm Boulevard, Vero Beach, on Monday, Aug. 5, on what would have been his 87th birthday, at 10 a.m. A reception will be held in the church fellowship hall immediately following the service.
There will be no graveside service. He will be laid to rest beside Judy and his mother and father at Crestlawn Cemetary in Vero Beach.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to one of the following community organizations: the Exchange Club of Vero Beach Scholarship Foundation Trust, the American Cancer Society, the First Presbyterian Scholarship Fund, or the Alzheimer and Parkinson Association of Indian River County.
Joseph Michael Yates, 50, Fellsmere
Joseph “Tater” Michael Yates, 50, of Fellsmere, died July 30, 2019, after a brief illness. He was born in Vero Beach and was a lifetime resident of Fellsmere and Clewiston, Fla.
Tater worked as a mechanic for many years.
Survivors include his daughter, Brittany Nichole Yates Osorio Fuentes, of Fellsmere; son, Justin Yates, of Mims, Fla.; mother, Patricia Morris, of Georgia; siblings, Michelle, Jason and Chris; grandchildren, Jazmine, Yanellie and Eli, all of Fellsmere, FL; lifelong friend and mother of Brittany and Justin, Margaret Yates, of Fellsmere.
He was preceded in death by his father, Floyd Yates.
At the request of the family services will be private.
