PEARCE, Milton Armond (Pete)

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 09/17/2013 Milton Armond ‘Pete’ Pearce War hero Milton Armond “Pete” Pearce, 99, died Jan. 22, 2013, in Truth or Consequences, N.M. He grew up in Eagar, the third son of nine children of Joe and Minnie Lund Pearce. Pete served in the Philippines during World War II and was captured when the Japanese invaded the island. He weighed 180 pounds at the beginning of the war. After surviving 42 months of brutal captivity, forced labor and the Bataan Death Marches, he arrived home at 86 pounds. He received the Purple Heart Award. In 1946, he married Jimmy Louise “Pokey” Texada. Pete was a heavy equipment operator for 40 years and helped build Boulder Dam, as well as many major highways and dams in Arizona and California. He was a member of the Operating Engineers for over 40 years. Pete was a cowboy at heart. He trained his last colt at age 90. He relished teaching young buckaroos how to rope and what to look for in a good horse or cow. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a 33rd degree Mason, as well as a member of Shriners International. Pete is survived by his children; two brothers, Nile and Grover of Northern California, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Pete and Pokey’s children, Patti and Tim, are sponsoring a potluck gathering to honor their parents’ memory at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Amity LDS Ward building, 576 W. School Bus Road in Eagar. The public is invited, dress is casual. Please join and bring Pearce memories or anecdotes.