Businessman served in community posts

5/23/2006

TIFFIN - Roy H. Pierce, 68, the owner and operator of Magers Lumber Co. here for many years who also was a former mayor, fire chief, and City Council member in Bettsville, Ohio, died Friday in Mount Carmel West Hospital, Columbus, from complications of kidney failure.

Mr. Pierce, who started his lumber yard in the Seneca County town where he was born - Bettsville - entered public service because "he enjoyed helping people and being with the people in the community he served," his wife, Nancy Pierce, said.

Serving his friends, neighbors, and the people who counted on him was the foremost reason he sought public office in the many years of service on the Bettsville city council, fire department, and in the mayor's office, his wife said.

Mr. Pierce graduated from Bettsville High School in 1957. He moved his family and business to Tiffin in 1989.

"He loved working with wood and that is why he was in the lumber business for most of his life," his wife said.

A race car enthusiast, Mr. Pierce also spent many years working on cars and learning the intricacies of racing at the Fremont Speedway. That led him to start a racing team, which he owned for 15 years.

He married the former Nancy Binkley on July 18, 1964.

"He was a family man who enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren," his wife said.

A longtime member of the Free and Accepted Masons, he was a past master of Tiffin Lodge 77, Clinton Council 47; past High Priest of Seneca Chapter 42, and a Knight of the York Cross of Honor Ohio Priory 18.

He was also a past commander of DeMolay Commandery 9 and a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Toledo.

He enjoyed gardening and collecting masonry antiques, his wife said.

Surviving are his wife, Nancy Pierce; daughter, Kim Nye; son, Keith, and five grandchildren.

Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today in the Engle-Shook Funeral Home, Tiffin, where a Masonic service will be at 7 tonight. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. tomorrow in the funeral home.

The family suggests tributes to the American Kidney Foundation or to the Masonic Eye Foundation.