Mary Lou Pierce , age 87, of Stockton, IL passed away Saturday, May 17, 2025. She was born on June 19, 1937 in Freeport, IL to the late Lyle and Daisie (Hardacre) Rife. Lyle passed away when Mary was young and her mother later married Wilbur Wright. Mary married her high school sweetheart, Max Pierce, on August 20, 1955 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Stockton.

She was a 1955 graduate of Stockton High School. Mary was an active member of the UU Church in Stockton. She loved bowling with the Motorettes, dancing with her husband, playing cards, gardening, cooking and wintering with her husband in Donna TX. Mary was exceptionally kind, a caretaker to the core. She was always thinking of others and everyone was welcomed in her home.

She is survived by her husband, Max Pierce; her children, Vicki (Olivier Andreini) Selover, Crystal Pierce, Brian (Patti) Pierce, Rick Pierce and Diane (Dale) Heath; her grandchildren, Jefferson (Amanda) Selover, Regina (Derek) Butler, John (Natasha Hastings) Reiland, Jammie (Mark) Hannis, Jana Reiland, Tony Pierce, Karly (Larry) Gleeson, Jing Jing (Sitai Qin) He, Maria (Ragnar Stefánsson) Heath, Carissa (James) Armstrong, Vince (Chas) Heath and Alissa Adams; her 15 great grandchildren; and her sisters, Phyllis Gothard, Pat Phillips and Sharon (Stan) Cox. She was preceded in death by her parents; her son-in-law, Eugene Selover; her daughter-in-law, Jiao He; and her sister, Shirley Heller and brothers-in-law, Dalvin Heller, Gene Gothard and Don Phillips.

A memorial fund will be established in lieu of flowers.

A celebration of life potluck will be held at 1pm on Sunday, July 6, 2025 at the Brian & Patti Pierce farm for friends and family.