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The Fort Myers News Press, Monday, November 15, 1999
Cape Coral
Girl's dream was to study ocean science
14-year-old's life cut short on street
By Sharon Turco [modified by David Pierce]
Fourteen-year-old Lillian Pierce, who dreamed of becoming a biologist, was glad to be close to the ocean again when her family moved from Silverthorne, CO to Cape Coral, FL. The Cape Coral High School freshman excelled in biology, but she'll never realize her dream. Lilli, as she liked to be called, died Friday night after being struck by a car while trying to cross busy Del Prado Boulevard.
"Even though she missed her many Summit County friends," said her mother, Judy Pierce, "she really wanted to move here. I'm glad she got to be close to the ocean."
Judy Pierce and her husband, David Pierce Jr., said Lilli's friends have been a comfort as they prepare for their only child's funeral.
"The three of us were a team," David Pierce said. "We were very close, very tight. A large part of me is gone now."
Cape Coral residents have complained for years about speeding on Del Prado Boulevard.
Police say Lilli was trying to run across the six-lane intersection near Coralwood Shopping Center at Southeast 22nd Terrace when she was struck by a 1981 Datsun driven by Michelle N., 18, of Cape Coral. Three boys crossing with Lilli stopped in the median and weren't hurt.
"She made it all the way across until the very last lane," police spokesman Angelo Bitsis said Friday.
Lilli was taken to Cape Coral Hospital, where she died of head injuries.
The Pierce family moved to the Cape in July after reading an article about the city in Money Magazine that listed the Fort Myers-Cape Coral area as a great place to live.
"We made the decision together," David Pierce Jr. said. "We wanted a fresh start."
The Pierces were saving money to buy a home, something they were reluctant to do in Colorado because of the high cost of living, David Pierce Jr. said.
"It was hard for Lilli to leave her friends in Summit County, Colorado," David said, "but she made friends easily, and soon had all the malls and cool hangout places for her playground. We were looking forward to so much."
Lilli's grandmother, Nancy Phetteplace of Glenwood, CO, was in Cape Coral on Sunday helping the Pierces deal with the loss of their daughter. They talked of a girl who loved to laugh.
Before leaving Colorado, Lilli starred in the Summit Middle School play "Ozma of Oz."
"She loved drama," her father said. "It was one of the ways she found to express herself. She wasn't a cheerleader, wasn't a sports star," David Pierce Jr. said. "But many people loved her. She touched hearts with her smile and her offbeat charm."
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The Cape Coral Daily Breeze, Thursday, November 18, 1999
Family and friends gather to celebrate teen's life
By Valli Covert Finney [modified by David Pierce]
She couldn't hate anybody and was always smiling. That is what friends of Lillian Marie "Lilli" Pierce said about her shortly before the memorial service Wednesday to celebrate her life -- and death.
Lilli died Friday while attempting to cross Del Prado Boulevard at Southeast 22nd Street and was struck by a car.
Even though she lived in Cape Coral only a short period of time -- since July -- many teenagers, dressed in anything from Gothic clothing to JROTC uniforms, gathered at Christian Life Fellowship to remember her.
"Lilli couldn't hate anybody," her friend Ashley Sp., 15, said.
Lilli's boyfriend, Lee G., also 15, wore a T-shirt with her date of birth -- May 11, 1985 -- and her date of death -- November 12, 1999 -- on it to her memorial service. The T-shirt also had her picture on it.
"Lilli liked listening to a wide variety of music, but her favorite group was No Doubt," Lee said. "She just liked to hang out."
Lilli wasn't one to shun anybody.
"I'd say, 'Don't talk to that person,'" Ashley said. "But she'd say, 'I don't care about my reputation.' She was a friend to all."
Lee said she always had a smile on her face, and many of her friends agreed with him as they began filing into the church to remember her.
Said her friend Justin K.: "She was just a happy camper."
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| Gone To Be With Jesus Sung at Lilli's Memorial Service, 11/19/2000 Walkin' cross a highway, in the summer of her 14th. year, Little did she know my friend, her time was almost here. To meet her God in Glory, to see the Promised Land, To hear the age old Story, being sung by the Heavenly band, the Heavenly Band. And we are left to wonder, in the mystery of it all. Seldom do we understand, why one, so young, must fall. But we will not be broken, by our thoughts of yesterday, We'll put our faith and hope in God, and keep livin; for Him, day by day, Day by Day. Cause, walkin' cross a highway, in the summer of her 14th. year, We all know the story now, our friend is no longer here. She's Gone To Be With Jesus, in the place where the children play, And she'll be there to greet us, when we finally meet our day, When we meet our day, oh, I'm on my way! So rest now weary mamma, and papa, you stand so tall. For you have raised a child to God, a blessing to us all. And we, we will all be sorry, to see her face no more, But now we've got a good reason, it makes Heaven worth livin' for, Worth livin' for...She'll be there at the door, whoa, it' s worth livin' for. (whisper) He's worth livin' for.... Verne Bullock, Copyright 1977, Uriah Music Company, Elizabeth, Colorado |
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