Mary Lou Pierce

Mary Lou Pierce, 60, Lawrence, passed away Saturday, April 5, 2014, after her fight with cancer. She was born in Lawrence on Oct. 16, 1953, to Frank and Lazara Romero. In 1971, Mary Lou married Kerry Pierce, and together they raised their son Kevin and daughter Amanda. Since 1988, Mary Lou owned and operated Pierce Day Care, where she touched the lives of countless children and their families.

She is survived by her husband Kerry, her parents, Frank and Lazara, and her children, Kevin, Amanda, and son-in-law Tom de Man. She is also survived by her siblings Anna & Eric Dawson, Diana Romero, Mark & Lori Romero, and Amy & Gabriel Chavez.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Mary Lou Pierce Memorial Fund, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044. A private memorial service will be held at the funeral home. rumsey-yost.com.