Paul Pierce, 56, passed away Wednesday, November 25, 2009 in Abilene.  His funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 28 at the Caps Baptist Church with burial following in Elmwood Memorial Park.  Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday at Elmwood Funeral Home, 5750 Hwy. 277 South.

Paul was born in San Antonio on March 31, 1953, the son of Richard A. Pierce, Sr., and Marian R. Clark Pierce.  He has lived in Abilene most of his life, graduating from Cooper High School in 1971 and McMurry University in 1981.  He taught school for a short time in Clyde and later in Paducah but eventually felt called to ministry which led him to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth where he graduated in 1991.  Paul was the minister of Hunt Baptist in Hunt for 13 years and had been the Pastor of Caps Baptist Church for the past 2 years.  He loved fishing and sports of all kinds especially baseball.  He also enjoyed bowling and was a talented runner in his younger days.

Paul's passion was serving the Lord through his work as a Pastor.  He loved all the members of his congregation and truly sought to be their guide through good times and bad.  He strived daily to bring new members to the church and new believers to Christ.  He will be dearly missed by his family and his flock.

Survivors include his wife of 24 years, Beverly Gardner Pierce of Abilene; four sons, Ethan, Aaron, Dylan and Haydn Pierce all of Abilene; two brothers, Richard Pierce and wife, Dannisue of Abilene and Steven Pierce and wife Kathy of Lubbock; four sisters, Dawn Thomas and husband Roy of Morrow, Ohio, Mary Kirschbaum and husband Joe of Abilene, Karen Green and husband Buford of Princeton and Wanda Burke of Allen; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations are suggested to Caps Baptist Church.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.elmwoodfuneral.com.

Published by Abilene Reporter News.