Katherine C. Pierson

Katherine “Betty” Callahan Pierson, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother died April 3, 2010, in Lehigh Acres at the age of 92. She was born September 5, 1917 in Hornell, N.Y., and lived there until she married Charles Pierson in 1940, and moved to New Brunswick, N.J. They later moved to Piscataway, N.J., and finally settled in Lehigh Acres in 1983.

Pierson was a graduate of Jersey City Medical Center Nursing School and worked as a registered nurse at St. Peter’s Hospital in New Brunswick, N.J., where she also trained Candy Striper volunteers. She was a member of the Ladies of the Elks at the Lehigh Acres Lodge #2602 where she served as treasurer for 14 years and bartended for many years.

She is survived by three daughters, Kathryn Pierson of Lehigh Acres, Elizabeth L. Hixon, wife of James Sr., Dunellen, N.J., and Mary I. Elliott, wife of Gerard, Amherst, Va. She is also survived by two grandchildren, James Hixon Jr. and Cynthia Hixon-Martin and two great-grandchildren, Brianna Martin and Grace Hixon. She is predeceased by her husband Charles, three brothers and two sisters.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church, Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 10 a.m.. A Ladies of the Elks Service and light lunch will follow at Lehigh Acres Elks, 1050 Joel Blvd. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to be made to Hope Hospice in her name. Cremation was handled by the National Cremation Society.