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FLORENCE,
S.C. _ Eugene "Gene" R. Pier, 48, passed away the evening of
Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009. He finally lost his courageous battle with brain
cancer, after being diagnosed early in 2007. His loving and devoted wife
of 11 years, Sonja, was at his side. He joins other veterans of the Gulf
War, Desert Storm, who died from the same cause.Gene was born Feb. 15, 1961, on Long Island to Lynn and Roger Pier. His family spent most of his childhood in Oneonta.
Gene was a 1979 graduate of OHS. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in January of that year on the buddy program with his best friend, Donald Eldred.
After serving honorably for four years as a Huey helicopter repair technician, he was accepted into and completed the U.S. Army Warrant Officer Flight Training program conducted at Ft. Rucker, Ala.
He was assigned to Ft. Drum as a MedEvac pilot. While deployed during the Gulf War in February of 1991, during a noncombat-related night flying maneuver, his chopper crashed.
The senior WO pilot was killed, and Gene suffered critical, almost fatal, injuries. After recovering, he was released from active duty in 1992. He was never able to return to having active flight status due to physical limitations resulting from the crash.
He did get some training and flight time with small fixed wing aircraft, but helicopters were his dream. Even though he was considered primarily disabled, Gene worked and lived in the South. Due to the debilitating advancement of conditions left from the crash, it was determined that Gene was 100 percent service connected disabled in 1999.
Gene remarried in May 1998. After that time, he was a resident of the Florence, S.C., area. He was a member of the Veterans Honor Guard. He served as a Guardian ad Litem for the Florence area judicial system, representing and assisting troubled youth and youth involved in the foster-care system when necessary. He also umpired local softball and officiated local youth volleyball.
He was able to return to the Oneonta area for a brief visit last month, to fulfill his dream of going up in a helicopter one more time, and piloting it. A wonderful young man named Pat Dillon of Utica was able to do that on July 12, 2009.
He is survived by his "sweet southern belle," Sonja Pier of Florence, S.C.; stepdaughters, Laurie Shoffiet of Atlanta, Ga., and Amy Lee of Florence, S.C. and their children; his own "child," a little white lap dog named "Munchie," who was part of the immediate family; his mother, Lynn Gibbs, and stepdad, Ron Gibbs, of Darlington, S.C.; his sisters, Christine Andrews and husband Wayne of Harpersfield and Valerie Gordon and husband Scott of Oneonta; his Aunt Jeanne Brodie of Florence S.C.; his Aunt Glenda and Uncle Bob Moore of Milford; his Uncle Ronald and Aunt Pam Pier of Milford; nieces and nephews, and many cousins.
He is predeceased by his father, Roger A. Pier on May 1, 1995, and his favorite uncle and golfing partner, John Brodie, in 2007.
The Stoudenmire Dowling Funeral Home of Florence, S.C., is in charge of the viewing arrangements.
A funeral with full military honors will be held at his final resting place in the Florence National Cemetery on Monday, Aug. 17, 2009.
A local memorial service may be held soon.
Inquiries may be sent to candrews922@wildblue.net.