Joelene LaVelle Pierce

Joelene LaVelle Pierce, 47, of Elgin, Oregon, passed away suddenly of an indetectable and inoperable brain bleed at Providence Saint Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla, Washington, on April 18, 2023. 

Our hearts are breaking as we mourn the loss of our dear Joelene. She was so full of love and happiness that it’s hard to imagine a world without her. She will forever be in our hearts, even if we can’t hold her in our arms.

Joelene was born September 14th, 1975, in Baker City, Oregon, to Tom Pierce and Gayelynn Dickenson (formerly Pierce). She was the precocious first born of four children. She always spoke her mind and stood up for others. Joelene took her job as a big sister very seriously. She adored her younger siblings, even if she wanted them gone sometimes. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for them. She never met a person she didn’t like, or at least tried to like. Joelene was generous to a fault. She would give you anything, even when she had nothing. Her final act of generosity and love was as a total tissue and organ donor.

Joelene loved animals. She worked with her father on the ranch as often as possible and worked at a local veterinary clinic in Baker. In her twenties, she worked in veterinary clinics in Portland and Boise as well. Joelene also enjoyed sports and music. She played volleyball, basketball, and softball. Her favorite part was just being part of the team. She was a wonderful singer and was active in the church choir and the high school honors choir. Joelene was also the director in family road trip sing alongs. In her later years, Joelene was happiest in the mountains. She spent as much time as possible in the woods hunting for mushrooms, huckleberries, and sheds, or on the river fishing. She loved the outdoors and the quiet peacefulness of the forest.

Family was everything to Joelene and her greatest joy was creating her own family. She was very proud of her son, Cameron. Watching him grow and excel in sports always made her beam. She was so excited when she learned she was pregnant with her second son twelve years later. Samuel was followed by two sisters, CarlyJo and Ember. Joelene was delighted that CarlyJo is a spirited fireball just like she was as a child. Ember brought her sweetness and cuddles. Her children brought her happiness and kept her laughing. Her four children were the loves of her life.

Joelene was a ball of energy and laughter. She brought fun to every situation and always looked on the bright side. Nothing ever got Joelene down for long. Her bright smile and rich laugh will be forever missed.

"Silence is never noticed until it is all you hear."
There was never silence with Joelene around, only laughter and light.

Joelene is survived by her parents, Gayelynn Dickenson and Tom & Kathy Pierce, siblings, Heather & Jake Madison, Derrick & Melody Pierce, and Cissy & Patrick Tully, stepsisters, Trish & Matt Donner and Kara & Jacob Johnson, her children, Cameron Skinner (19), Samuel Toy (7), CarlyJo Toy (4), and Ember Toy (2), her granddaughter Awbrey (4), and dozens of nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her niece, Jaxen Trieste Henderson.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joelene LaVelle Pierce, please visit our floral store.