Betty Lou Costner Pierce

Mrs. Betty Lou Costner Pierce, 84, passed away on Christmas Night, December 25, 2014, at her home with her daughter, Lorry, and her grandchildren, Rob, Tony, and Jake Canaday, by her side. She was a Cocke County native and the only daughter of the late Bruce Wilson Costner and Ada Melton Costner of Newport, TN. Upon completion of high school in Newport, she entered nurses training at Saint Marys Hospital in Knoxville, TN where she worked for a short time. Mrs. Pierce was employed at James H. Quillen Veterans Administration beginning in 1959. While working at the VA Hospital she received the Cum Laude Bachelor of Science Degree at East Tennessee State University and received the Margaret Gault Opiz award for outstanding nurse at ETSU in 1986. Ms. Pierce also received her Bachelor of Science Professional Arts Degree from Saint Josephs College, North Windham, Maine. During her tenure at the VA Hospital she received an Excellence In Nursing Award from the Veterans Administration in 1990 and she was listed in Whos Who in American Nursing 1990-1991. Mrs. Pierce retired from the Veterans Administration with thirty years of service in nursing. Mrs. Pierce was later employed at Mountain States Health Alliance, Johnson City Specialty Hospital and was presented with The Nursing Excellence Award in 2003. She was a member of St. Marys Catholic Church and served as the Landscaping Coordinator at the request of Father Tambarillo until he retired. She was a member of the National Council of Catholic Women and served as President for Saint Marys council from 1992-1994. Betty and her niece, Shirley Bowman Sisk of Newport, TN, wrote and published the book The Costners 'Travelling the Roads of Life'? copyrighted in 1999. She was preceded in death by: her late husband, Oscar Leon Pierce, 2004; daughter, Theresa Elaine Pierce in 1986; her father, Bruce Wilson Costner; mother, Ada Unava Melton Costner; two brothers, Roy C. Costner and Clyde W. (Derby) Costner; sisters, Lita Costner, Roxi Costner, Kima C. Suttles, Beaulah C. Carmichael, Zola Ramsey Costner, and Trula C. McGaha; and numerous nieces and nephews. Survivors include: her daughter, Jeanne Lorraine (Lorry) Pierce of Johnson City, TN; brother, William Richard Costner of Newport, TN; three grandsons, Robert E. (Rob) Canaday, Jr. of Johnson City, TN, Anthony Pierce (Tony) Canaday of Danville, IN, and Jacob Ross (Jake) Canaday of Danville, IN; granddaughter, Miranda Bynum (Mandie) Nelson; great granddaughter, Samantha Elizabeth Underwood; special daughter, Janet Wunderlich; and beloved dog, Zorro.