Elta Gene (Sions) Pierce, daughter of Charles Earl and Mary "Marie" (Wadsworth) Sions, was born at Oakwood, Oklahoma on September 18, 1924 and departed this life at OU Medical Center Presbyterian Hospital in Oklahoma City on May 2, 2008.

Elta Gene attended Oakwood Public School while her father worked for his parents in their general merchandise store in Oakwood. In 1935 her parents purchased the drug store in Cleo Springs where she attended Cleo Springs Public School. After High School, she attended Southwestern State College School of Pharmacy where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy in 1945.

Elta Gene and Oscar William Pierce were united in holy matrimony in the Brooks Field Chapel, San Antonio, TX on January 14, 1943. The young couple's places of residence were numerous while Oscar was remained in the active service of his country.

This union was blessed with four children, Donice Earlene, Richard Lindell, Robert Layne, and Janet Marie.

At the time she graduated, pharmacy hours were not the best for a woman with a family. While Oscar was attending college, she also attended Phillips University and received her elementary teaching certificate. Elta Gene taught third and fourth grade in Cleo Springs School. She also taught 6th grade and science at Cleveland Elementary within the Enid Public School systems. In 1964 Elta Gene and Oscar purchased the Leedey Drug Store and moved to Leedey with their children, Richard, Robert and Janet. They were welcomed and embraced by this community and Elta Gene used her pharmacy degree here for the last 43 years.

Elta Gene was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star; being a past matron of both the Cleo Springs and Leedey Chapters and received her 50 year pin in 1992. In addition, she was recognized by the Oklahoma Pharmaceutical Association in 1995 for 50 years of outstanding service as a registered pharmacist. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Elta Gene was baptized at Cleo Springs Methodist Church in August of 1948. From the time she moved to Leedey until the time of her passing, Elta Gene was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Leedey.

Elta Gene was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar; a daughter, Donice; her parents, Earl and Marie; and her father and mother-in-law Alanson and Mary Olive Pierce. She is survived by three children, Richard Pierce of Leedey, OK; Robert Pierce and wife Jennifer of Enid, OK; and Janet Cunningham and husband Keith of Yorktown, VA. Also by her beloved grandchildren Allison Charles and husband Trent of Garber, OK; Lindsay Cunningham of Omaha, NE; Amy Willard and husband Kyle of Enid, OK; Sarah Cunningham and fiancé Ryan Fleischmann of Omaha, NE; Nicole Cunningham of Yorktown, VA and Aaron Pierce of Enid, OK. She is also survived by nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

Services will be held Monday, May 5, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Leedey, OK. Interment will be at 3:00 p.m. at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Enid, OK. Condolences may be made at shawfuneralhome.net.