Reed L. Pierson

Reed L. Pierson passed away on April 6, 2023, in Tremonton, Utah.  Reed was born on April 5, 1941, in East Garland, Utah.  He was the second of four children born to Harmon D. and Luella R. Atkinson Pierson.  He was his dad’s best birthday present since they shared a birthday.  This started a lifelong bond as they worked together on the family farm. 

Dad lived most of his life in East Garland, but moved to Yuba City, California, for three years when he was a young child.  When the family returned from California, they made East Garland their permanent home where they milked cows and farmed. 

Dad attended Garland Elementary and graduated from Bear River High School in 1959 where he excelled in sports.  He played football and baseball, but was most proud of the school’s state championship in basketball in 1959 when he was a starter for the championship team.  He was very competitive in all sports and continued to play basketball and softball for many years, as well as taking up golf. 

Dad started dating his next-door neighbor, Yetta Karen Peterson, while they were both in high school.  They were married in the Logan Temple on July 17, 1959.  They lived their entire married life in East Garland, just up the road from his parents’ home.  They were blessed with three children, Becky, Sue and Wes.  They spent 50 years together until Mom passed away on February 24, 2010.  Dad was an amazing caregiver for her the last couple years of her life. 

Dad married Waylene Firth in November, 2012.  They were able to golf, travel and enjoy eating out until his health made those activities difficult to do. 

Dad graduated from Utah State University in 1963, in Elementary Education, and began teaching elementary school at Fielding Elementary.  After a few years, he transferred to North Park Elementary in Tremonton, Utah, where he spent the majority of his 32 years teaching 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grades.  He influenced hundreds of students during his career. He loved sports and started an intramural program, as well as testing for President’s Physical Fitness and the District Pentathlon.  His students were well coached and won many of the district meets.  Dad also spent a short time coaching football and wrestling at Bear River High School. 

Dad owned and operated a farm in East Garland, Utah, as well as running farms for other family members.  For years, he and his dad worked together on their farms.  Later, he and Wes farmed their ground together.   

Dad was a member of the AQHA and loved his horses.  He started cutter racing in the Bear River Valley Cutter Association and gained many lifelong friends.  He started racing horses on the flat track and that became a family operation.  He bred most of his own race horses, but had a good eye for buying a fast one.  Many of his horses were good enough to be sent to Los Alamitos Race Course in California.  Some of his favorites were Sparky, Willie, Lucy, Woody, and Cartels Fire.  At one time, Sparky was ranked in the top ten quarter horses in the country.  The races and trips to California became fun family bonding experiences.   

Dad was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held various callings.  He supported his grandchildren who chose to serve missions.  His granddaughter, Katelyn, is currently serving in the Italy Milan Mission. 

Dad loved his family and especially his grandchildren.  He was very proud of each of them and their accomplishments.  He was always there to support them, whether it was a ballgame, graduation, a birthday party, or any other important event.   

Reed is survived by and will be missed by his children, Becky Hodge, Suzette (Brad) Stevenson, and Wesley (Kari) Pierson, his grandchildren, Zac and Amy Hodge, Jordan Hodge, Kelsey Hodge, Rylee and James Croasdell, Nicole and Devin Ure, Chad Stevenson, Kaylee Stevenson, Taryn and Hayden Hammons, Brooklyn Stevenson, Rikki Anderson, Dawni and Shawn Farnworth, Hunter and Taler Gundersen, Ryan Pierson, and Katelyn Pierson, his 19 great-grandchildren, one sister, Ethelann Clark, and his wife, Waylene, as well as many nieces and nephews and friends. 

Dad was preceded in death by his wife, Yetta Karen, his parents, Harmon and Luella Pierson, his brother Dallis Pierson, his sister Judy Garfield, son-in-law Layne Hodge, and grandson Trent Stevenson.   

Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 10, 2023, at the Fielding Stake Center at 11:00 a.m. at 4375 West 15600 North in Garland, Utah.  A viewing will be held prior to the funeral on Monday from 9:00-10:30 a.m. at the Fielding Stake Center as well as on Sunday, April 9 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Rogers and Taylor Funeral Home at 111 North 100 East in Tremonton, Utah.  The service will be livestreamed and may be accessed below.

The family would like to express our sincere thanks to the entire staff at Our House Assisted Living in Tremonton, Utah.  They took amazing care of Dad and he loved “his girls”.  We would like to thank the staff at Enhabit Home Health Care, especially Alex, Cheryl, Dena, and others for their exceptional care over the past several months.  You are all the best!