Ruth Pierson, 71, went to be with her Lord on Dec. 19, 2013. Born Ruth Meyering, her mother died when she was six, and Ruth was raised by her sister, Mary Johnson, in Holland, Michigan. She knew Jesus as her Lord and Savior by age 9 and was part of Holland Central Wesleyan Church.

Ruth followed her calling to become a missionary nurse at Kamakwie Wesleyan Hospital, Sierra Leone, West Africa, where she served from 1967-1989. Ruth married Dr. Charles Pierson in 1972, and together they served in Kamakwie, where they raised three sons. After they moved to Berrien Springs, Michigan in 1989, Ruth became active in the Berrien Center Bible Church and Bible Study Fellowship. Even after 1989 she returned multiple times to Sierra Leone, until prevented by the progression of ovarian cancer.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Chuck; sons: David, Mark (Michelle) and Steven (Kandi) Pierson; four grandchildren; sisters: Jennie (Joseph) Hoch and Esther (Clyde) Tilton; and brothers: Chet, Don (Ruth) and Paul (Charlene) Meyering.

A celebration of life service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 3, 2014, at Berrien Center Bible Church, 8830 M-140, Berrien Center, with Pastors Maynard Schoen and Mark Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery in Berrien Springs. Friends may visit from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, at Heritage Chapel & Cremation Services, 8747 U.S. 31 Berrien Springs.

Memorials may be made to the Ruth Pierson Memorial Fund, c/o Wesleyan Investment Foundation Community Education Development Initiative Fund, P.O. Box 7250, Fishers, IN 46037. Those wishing to share a memory of Ruth may do so online at www.heritage-chapel.com.