Merrill Atlas Pierce

Merrill Atlas Pierce, age 49, passed away February 24, 2011. Merrill was born May 1, 1961 in Ringgold, Louisiana. He graduated from Natchitoches Central High School in 1979 and attended Northwestern State College in Natchitoches. Merrill was member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He was a self-made business man and owner of Universal Steel in Plant City, Florida until 2001 and Pierce Decorative Concrete in Woodstock, Georgia since 2002. Previously he worked with Steel-Tech and McGee as national project manager. His pride and joy was his son, Morgan Atlas Pierce, born December 24, 2001 in Atlanta, Georgia. Merrill is survived by his beloved companion, Tonya French of Natchitoches and Woodstock, his parents, Bill and Gloria Pierce of Elm Grove, Louisiana; his brother, Merrick Pierce, wife Donna, niece Melanie, and nephew Michael of Natchitoches; his brother, Marshall Pierce, wife Valerie, and niece Katie of Alpharetta, Georgia; his brother, Madison Pierce, wife Crystal, and nephew Maison of Natchitoches; Tonya’s children, Eric and Sarah French, daughter-in-law Meagan and grandson, Mason; along with many, many friends. Georgia visitation at Northside Chapel, 12050 Crabapple Road, Roswell on Friday, February 25 from 5–8 pm and funeral service Saturday, February 26 at 4:00 pm. Louisiana visitation will be at Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home, 848 Keyser Avenue, Natchitoches on Monday, February 28, 5-9 pm and on Tuesday, March 1, 8 am till service time at 2:00 pm with graveside service following at Memory Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to ALS Association at www.alsaga.org.