Lyman (Marvin) Pierson, age 82 of Antlers, Oklahoma went to see his Heavenly Father on February 5, 2025 after battling some recent health issues. His loving wife, Karen (Bradshaw) Pierson was at his side, as she had been for nearly 57 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents Omar (2007) and Ann (1998) Pierson. He was the oldest of seven kids, and is survived by siblings Mary Louise (Earl Jr. ) Davis, Patsy (Paul) Carpentier, Lena Wetherill, Donna (David) Vanous, Rosie (Rick) Kerner, Charlie Pierson and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lyman had a life well lived with many stories to tell, and those who knew him, know he loved to share them. From his earliest days in St. Ignace, where he was born November 22, 1942 in his Grandma's home, we know he hunted with his grandpa, sold ice cream on the docks while the Mackinac Bridge was being built and looked for trouble with his childhood friends.

He loved our country and proudly served in the Army, completing basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood and was stationed at posts in Washington and Alaska. Lyman loved fast cars and "honkey tonkin" and chasing a cool 1962 Dodge Dart led him to his bride, Karen. The first night they met, after she impressed him with her hot rod, he told his parents he was going to marry her. He married Karen in 1968, they bought a house in Battle Creek, he started working for General Motors (then later managed a salvage yard and worked for the Post Office) and they had two kids, Marvin (Sennie) Pierson of Blue Springs, MO and Elizabeth (John) Leverton of Northville, MI. In 1976, they made a move to the country and raised their kids in East Leroy, MI, where they were surrounded by a great community of neighbors and their wonderful church family at North Athens Baptist Church. Working on cars with his son, doing for others, listening to country music (Loretta Lynn and Ray Price were some favorites), singing his own - often made up - tunes, canning food, family time and telling stories were some of his favorite pastimes. Favorite vacations were spent with trips to St. Ignace to see car shows and family, summers camping in Lake City with his grandkids and a 3-week family roadtrip out West. He also loved card games, like Solitaire and Hearts, the Detroit Tigers and watching NASCAR and bull riding. He was a whiz at math, chopping wood, processing deer and could repair anything with wheels. He retired from the Post Office in 2009, and he and Karen set out on an adventure that led them to Antlers, OK - his final home before Heaven. He found a fabulous church family at the First Baptist Church of Antlers (where he was baptized in 2015) and many friends through volunteering and his first homesite there, the Antlers RV park. His family grew to include six grandkids (Jessica Pierson, Rebbekah (Ryan) Keeton, Dakotah Pierson, then Brady, Cooper and Delaney Leverton) and six great-grandkids (Caity, Jackson, Lily, James, Chance and Madi). He had many beloved pets, including dogs Chief, Stanley and his current Yorkie companion, Wilson. All who knew and loved him would say "he was a character and a storyteller with a lifetime of shenanigans to make you laugh. He himself would laugh so hard he would cry and slap his knee. He was a protector with a huge heart, that deeply loved God, his country and his family.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church in Antlers, Oklahoma, on Monday, February 10th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

A military burial service will take place in the spring at Fort Custer in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Lyman's legacy of love, laughter, faith - and his stories- will live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know him.