Ralph Melvin Pierce, 82, resident of Angie, LA passed away on Monday, September 28, 2020 at his residence.  He was born in Washington Parish to Melvin Lucious and Lillian Singley Pierce on October 30, 1937.

Ralph worked 44 years at the Bogalusa Paper Mill and retired in 2000 as Maintenance Supervisor of Heavy Equipment. Ralph, along with his wife Marion and sister and brother-in-law, Mary Lee and Shelby McKenzie, was owner of Zesto Drive In for 56 years. He also was partner in P&B Equipment Service with Glenn Boone for several years.

Ralph was an avid NASCAR fan and attended several races over the years. In his early years Ralph and Billy Wayne Rester raced their famous 6 PAC car on oval dirt tracts. He also drove his 60 Chevy in drag racing competitions. His prize possession was his 1967 El Camino which he showed at classic car shows and won several awards.

Ralph regularly attended Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church where he was a member.

Ralph especially loved taking his family on summer vacations and teaching all of his grandchildren to water ski.

He is survived by his wife Marion Pierce; his son Scott (Cathy) Pierce; his daughter Melanie (Steve) Hoover; grandchildren Drake and Blake Pierce, Abby (Trevor) Parker, MaryClaire, AnnaGrace, SaraBeth, KatiRose, and JohnRoss Hoover; a great grandchild Owen Parker; a sister Mary Lee (Shelby) McKenzie; his nieces Hope McGinn and Madonna Williams; and numerous other great nieces and nephews.

The visitation will be Thursday, October 1, 2020 beginning at 4:30 pm until 8:00 pm and will continue on Friday, October 2, 2020 from 9:00 am until the funeral service at 11:00 am in the chapel.  Rev. Donnie Broom will officiate the service and interment will follow at Rester Cemetery.  While visiting we politely request that everyone continue to social distance and wear a mask.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation to continue research for a pulmonary fibrosis cure, 21301 S. Tamiami Trail Suite 320 PMB 226, Estero, FL 33928

To view and sign the register book please visit pooleritchiefuneralhome.com