Ione E. McHale Pierce

Ione Elizabeth (Spreier) McHale Pierce, 89, of Beatrice, Nebraska, where she had been a resident of P.E.O. Home, passed away on Wednesday, December 7, 2016, at Seagren Hospice House in Lincoln. She was born to Alex and Marie (Weideman) Spreier on August 18th, 1927 in Southard, Oklahoma. While she was still young the family moved to a farm near Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Ione was a 1944 graduate of Scottsbluff High School. In 1947, she married Marvin L. “Mac” McHale. The couple moved around central and western Nebraska before settling in Lexington in 1957. Mac died in an automobile accident in 1983, and Ione was married to Floyd Pierce on March 17, 1990, in Lexington. Ione received her normal teaching certificate while in high school. She then received her Bachelor’s degree from Kearney State College. While she was teaching Special Education and 6th grade at Bryan elementary schools in Lexington, she went back to school nights and summers and earned her Master’s and Specialist Degrees from UNK. She then received her Doctorate from UNL. Ione was a Professor at Kearney State College (later University of Nebraska-Kearney) from 1966, until her retirement in 1990. Even after her retirement, she could be found teaching and serving in numerous organizations in both, Lexington, and Apache Junction, Arizona, where Ione and Floyd spent their winters. The couple loved to travel. They travelled worldwide. She loved children! Special needs children always held a special place in her heart. Her grandchildren, and great-granddaughters were the loves of her life. Ione was involved in the Council for Exceptional Children, Learning Disabilities Association, The Arc, Chapter AN, P.E.O., Delta Kappa Gamma, Phi Delta Kappa, Nebraska Association for Psychology, Love-in-Action, Soroptomists, Midwest Symposium for Leadership in Behavioral Disorders, Stephen Ministries, United Methodist Church in Lexington, Nebraska and Gold Canyon United Methodist Church in Apache Junction, Arizona. Ione is survived by one daughter, Linda Guill (Rick Klauz) of Malcolm, Nebraska; sister, Geraldine Andreas of Scottsbluff, Nebraska; four grandchildren; Russ (Lisa) Guill of Lincoln, Nebraska, Kristin (Jonathan) Leahy of Westminster, Colorado, Jennifer (Seth) Felton of Lincoln, Nebraska, and David McHale of Lincoln, Nebraska; five great-granddaughters, Lorien & Lorelei Guill of Lincoln, Nebraska, Samantha & Emma Leahy of Westminster, Colorado, and Cora Felton of Lincoln, Nebraska; daughter-in-law; Joanne McHale of Lincoln, Nebraska; and sister-in-law, Judy Spreier of Mitchell, Nebraska. Preceding Ione in death were her parents; brother, Larry Spreier; both husbands; son, Max McHale; grandson, Ryan Guill. It was Ione’s wishes for cremation and the family has granted those wishes. A Memorial Celebration of Life will be Friday, December 16, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Lexington with Reverend Anne Gahn officiating. Chapter AN, P.E.O. will perform the Memorial Ceremony at the church. Inurnment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery at Lexington. A Register Book signing and visiting with family time will be Thursday, December 15, 2016, from 5-7 p.m. at the Reynolds-Love Funeral Chapel in Lexington. Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church, Lexington Volunteer Fire Department, or the Hospice of your choice. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.