Sherri L Porterfield Pierce left this life unexpectedly on October 13,2021, at the age of 75.
Sherri was born May 20,1946, to H.R. Porterfield and May C. Ernst Porterfield in Lovelock, Nevada.
Sherri was a lifelong resident of Lovelock. After graduating from Pershing County High School in 1964, she moved to Boise, Idaho to attend business college and met USAF 2C Joe Pierce.
They were married in June 1966 in Boise, Idaho, and she became an Air Force wife. She and Joe welcomed two daughters Tari Lynn in March 1967 and Katherine Elaine in October 1970.
Sherri spent the next 19 years traveling with Joe as the military moved them to different states and even a 3-year tour in Germany.
Sherri was a homemaker for most of her life. She became a CNA for a few years and also worked for Pershing County Buildings and Grounds cleaning the county buildings until a back injury forced her to stop working.
Sherri was an avid reader (she could usually finish a book in about 24 hours), loved jigsaw puzzles (the bigger, the better), collecting crystal bells, playing scrabble with her mom and sisters, and multiple card and board games with her husband and daughters.
She enjoyed being around her family and friends. She believed once you were a friend, you were family and she loved her family with her whole heart.
She had a special spot in her heart for her son-in-law Mark and her grandchildren Donald and Jena
She would tell stories of her grandparents coming to Unionville from Pennsylvania with three small boys (eventually two daughters and another son joined the family) and them growing up in the Buena Vista Valley.
Sherri loved telling stories of her childhood in Lovelock and spending summers at the family home in Unionville with her sisters, brother, and cousins.
Sherri served on the Pershing County Cemetery Board for nearly 30 years joining in the early 1990’s.
She and Cemetery Secretary, Loa Long, were instrumental in erecting the flagpoles at Lone Mountain and Big Meadow cemeteries and having the memorial wall built at Lone Mountain Cemetery which has designated sections for babies and our US Military Veterans.
Sherri also was able to help bring the Unionville Cemetery into Pershing County ownership.
Growing up, Sherri was a member of Rainbow Girls Assembly # 11. She enjoyed her years as a student at Pershing County High School and participated in many groups/activities including Drill Team, FHA & Drama. Sherri loved getting together with former schoolmates, talking and laughing about all the fun they used to have (and the things they got away with).
She was a member and Past President of the Eagles Auxiliary before it was disbanded.
Sherri has gone home to be with her daddy and mama, H.R. Porterfield and May C. Mello who she has missed terribly since their passing in 1973 and 2008 respectively.
She was also reunited with her sisters that preceded her in death; Evelyn (Jim) McConnell, Betty Lou (Douglas) Baxter, Rose Marie (Kenneth) Stagmeyer, Jeannie (Dean) Watson, brother Joe (Pat) Mello.
She was also preceded in death by her In-laws Lloyd and Olive Pierce, sister-in-law Iva Haas, sister-in-law Rose Pierce, brother-in-law Dewey Haas., and brother-in-law Elwin Grout, and dear friend (and some would say “partner in crime”), Loa Long; along with numerous other family members, friends, and classmates.
Those of us continuing to love her from Earth are her husband of 55 years Joe Pierce; Daughters Tari (Mark) Pilon and Katherine Pierce of Lovelock; Sister Roberta (Jack) Williams of Lodi, Ca; Brothers Michael (Bretlin) Mello of Elk Grove, Ca., Don (Saundra) Mello, and Garnett (Denise) Mello of Fallon, Nv; Brother-in-law Eddie Pierce of Del City, Ok, and sister-in-law Elaine Grout of Chandler, Az; Grandchildren Donald and Jena Pilon of Lovelock, Nv; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
In honoring her wishes, Sherri was cremated and will be interred at both Lone Mountain Cemetery next to her father and Unionville Cemetery near her mother in the family plot.
Arrangements were made under the care and direction of Smith’s Family Funeral Home in Fallon, Nevada.
Memorial services are pending at this time.
In Lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made in Sherri’s name to any of the following organizations: Lovelock Senior Center, Pershing County High School Alumni Association, or the Lovelock Community Food Bank.
