David Yow Pearce

Published 4:03 pm Friday, May 22, 2020

David Yow Pearce, 72, died on May 21, 2020 at his home in Browns, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Frances Weissinger Pearce, sons and daughter-in-laws, David and Michelle Pearce Jr., Will and Beth Pearce.

Grandchildren: Jackson David Pearce, Mary Ashlyn Pearce, Crawford Yow Pearce, Byron Clay Jones, Jackson Russell Jones, Anne Frances Pearce, Elizabeth McIntyre Pearce, Mary William Pearce. A twin sister, Perry Pearce Benton of Atlanta, Georgia,  brother-in- law, Dean (Butch) Wilson of Selma, special friends Ann Carter and Cathy Johnson, and  numerous nieces and nephews.

David is preceded in death by his parents, Col. Robert McIntyre Pearce and Elizabeth Yow Pearce, his brother, Robert McIntyre Pearce Jr., and his in-laws, Dr. William Wood Weissinger and Carolyn Woodfin Weissinger.

David was born at West Point, New York on February 26, 1948 and lived all over the world as the son of a United States military officer.   He graduated from Auburn University with a degree in business administration and was a ROTC graduate.  He was a member in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.   On June 13, 1970, he married his college sweetheart, Fran, and often referred to her as the farmer’s daughter.  In 1971 they moved to Browns to try farming for just one year.   A few years later Pearce Catfish Farm was founded and in 1994 was named Farm of Distinction by the Farm-city Committee of Alabama.  At the young age of 24, David was a founding member and president of the Alabama Catfish Producers Association. He later served on the board and president of the Catfish Farmers of America.   In 1999, he and 12 other farmers formed Alabama Catfish Feed Mill in Uniontown,where he was president.   The mill helped the catfish industry to grow and prosper in the Black Belt Counties.  In 2012, he received the Catfish Farmers of America lifetime achievement award for his lifelong contributions to the catfish industry. 

David loved his adopted community and was an active member of Church Street United Methodist Church and The Guys Sunday School Class.  Over the years he served on local boards such as the Economic Development Board, Chamber of Commerce, People Bank and Trust, and Morgan Academy.

At a very young age he developed a passion for golf. Through the game of golf, he and Fran traveled and developed many strong friendships all around the world.  He was president and on the boards of the Selma Country Club, the Alabama Golf Association, Alabama Senior Golf Association and the Southern Senior Golf Association. David was very accomplished professionally and as a community leader, but he will be remembered most for the kindness and integrity he consistently displayed in his day to day life.

Graveside services will be held Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 11 a.m. at the Bell Church Cemetery located on Pearce Catfish Farm in Browns.  Pallbearers will be Derry Bone, Brennan Nedley, Randy Lovelady, Ronnie Leet, Ken Morrison, Kent Taylor, Tommy Burns and Mike Reynolds.  In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to any church or organization that strives to make this place he called home a better community.  You may visit www.LawrenceBrownService.com to offer the family condolences and sign the online guest registry.