 Maurine Eleanor Blum was born in McLean County, Illinois on November 30, 1914 to John G. and Irma Schad Blum. She had an older sister, Julia, a younger sister, Alice, and a younger brother, Johnny who all grew up in Normal, Illinois. Maurine attended Illinois State Normal University in Normal, Illinois, where she graduated with a degree in education. Being quite adventuresome for a young lady, and pursuing her love of dance, Maurine moved to New York to do her graduate work in modern dance at New York University. When World War II broke out, she moved back to Illinois to be near her family. It was there that she met her future husband, Lionel Warren Pierce at a USO dance. He was in the Army Air Corps, and wherever he was stationed, they continued to correspond. In November of 1944, Maurine became Mrs. Lionel Pierce. They moved around some as he continued his service to our country, and then, when he was honorably discharged, they moved to Santa Monica, California With two children, John and Larry, they bought a lot in a newly-developed area 20 miles north of Santa Monica, called Malibu, where Lionel began building their new home with his own hands while Maurine watched after the children. Less than a year later, with their third child, Dennis, on the way, they moved in. Three years later, they had their fourth son, Brian. While the boys were growing, Maurine stayed at home to raise her sons, instilling in them the values and morals that have helped make them the men they are today. In the early 1950's, the family began attending the Four Square Church in Santa Monica. It was there that Maurine met and accepted Jesus Christ as her savior. Her strong faith developed and grew over the years. She was a strong-willed, self-disciplined lady who enjoyed reading and gardening. She planted trees on their property in Malibu that are still there--nearly 50 years later. Maurine's life changed with the death of her beloved husband, Lionel, in 1969 and again, with the sudden, tragic death of her son, Dennis in 1985. She remained strong, and about ten years after Lionel died, she sold the family home in Malibu and eventually moved to Long Beach, California to be closer to her son John. She remained in Long Beach for about ten years or so, and then moved to Ventura to live close to her youngest son, Brian. She remained in Ventura for about 8 years, but during this time, her step began to slow, her health began to worsen, and her ability to be on her own diminished. At that time, she moved to Portland, Oregon so she could be close to her son, Larry. Her health continued to fail until she was unable to care for herself. At that time she went to a home near Larry and his family to be cared for by a lovely couple, Dan and Ethel Lupuleasa, who took very good care of her. She remained in their care until she went home to be with the Lord and join her beloved Lionel, her son Dennis, her parents, her sister Julia and her brother Johnny. She leaves her sons John and his wife Linda, Larry and his wife Nicole, and their son, (her grandson) Matthew, and Brian and his wife Diane; her sister, Alice; her brother-in-law Winfield Bates, and many other cherished family members and friends. Maurine was brought back to Southern California to be laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery, in Santa Monica, next to her beloved husband. A visitation and funeral service will be held on Friday, June 29, 2001, at 1:15 pm in the chapel at Gates, Kingsley, Gates Funeral Home in Santa Monica. Following the service at the funeral home and a graveside service at the cemetery, her family will greet friends and share a time of fellowship and refreshment in the hall at Woodlawn Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Gardenside Funeral Service.
Maurine -- what can I say about Maurine, there is so much. I feel so many |
