Bessie M. Pierce, age 99, of Austinburg, formerly of Leroy Township, passed away Sunday, May 4, 2014. Born July 9, 1914 in Euclid, she was the daughter of Estella Lenore (Alderman) & Alan Jacob Peck. She married Albert Leroy Pierce in 1948 in Ripley, NY.

Bessie was a custodian at Chardon High School, retiring in 1980. She also worked at Industrial Rayon and A&P grocery store. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughter, Nancy (Ray) Toth of Austinburg; son, Roger Freeman of Madison; step-son, Donald (Susan) Pierce of Missouri; grandchildren, Pamela (Allen) Virant, Becky (Russell) D’Angelo, Dennis (Darlene) Sharpe, Lorraine March, Suzanne Morley, Catherine (Stanley) Snyder, Michael (Judy) Freeman, Patricia (Glen) Drotar, Lisa Freeman, Betty Jo (Chris) Pittman, Donna Sue VanCamp, Richard (Karen) Toth, Anthony Toth, Kerry (Jeff) Hite; many great-grandchildren & great-great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.. She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Albert L. Pierce in 2001; her parents; grandson, Merle March; daughter-in-law, Marie Freeman; several sisters & brothers.

Friends will be received 5-8 PM, Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at THE BEHM FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 26 River Street, Madison, OH 44057. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday, May 8, 2014, at the funeral home. Final resting place will be Northeast Leroy Cemetery in Leroy Township.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lupus Foundation of America, Greater Ohio Chapter, 12930 Chippewa Road, Brecksville, OH 44141, American Heart Association, 1689 East 115 Street, Cleveland, OH 44106-3903, or Hospice of the Western Reserve, 17876 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, OH 44110-2602. On-line obituary may be viewed at www.behmfuneral.com.