Obituary of Janice Pierce

Jan passed peacefully over the rainbow bridge in the soft morning light of May 26th, 2019 at her home in Portland, Oregon, in the care of her beloved family. She was born May 17, 1952 in Tampa, Florida, to Marian and Harrison Pierce.She had an older brother, Harrison Junior (Harry), who she so resembled that, throughout her life, strangers mistook them for twins.She and Harrison had a strong, deep, lifelong connection. Harry passed in San Francisco, of complications due to the HIV virus in 1993.Jan loved sharing the story of how, when she was five, she and Harry would have fierce grapefruit battles in her parent’s front yard, tossing them at one another, until, one day Harry hit her full in the face with a rotten one, thus bringing about a speedy end to the “Grapefruit Wars.” While Jan’s family was not wealthy, they enjoyed the support provided by live-in help for several years.Jan was especially fond of an African American woman named Bea, who Jan said, “was the one who really took care of and loved me”.She was heartbroken when her parents dismissed Bea and her husband abruptly after Bea showed up at their Baptist church wearing a mink stole. Jan’s mother did not yet own one. Jan lamented that in her adult years she tried to find Bea, but could not. She graduated from Florida State University, becoming a junior reporter. She honed her skills at the award-winning St. Petersburg Times.Along the way, she developed a love for photography so continued her training, eventually becoming a lifelong photojournalist.Jan’s work appeared in the Tampa Tribune, USA Today, the Oregonian, Gambling Times, several organizational reports and strategic plans, films produced by the State of Oregon, and in neighborhood journals and newsletters.She was proud of having attended the Platypus Institute for photojournalists, also for an award she received from the City of Portland for her coverage of the city’s Commission on Disabilities. She loved traveling to Las Vegas every year where she covered the World Championship of Poker, even once winning $30,000 in a journalist’s stakes game. While she didn't get to keep the money, she said "it was a complete head rush to have that many chips piled up in front of me". Jan's photography skills took her to Cuba, Mexico, and Washington, D.C. where she documented the historical events her partner, Nyla, was participating in, then later, on a courageous solo trip around the world, so she could experience life before it was too late. Jan loved physicality.As a child, she was a competitive swimmer, and a good one.Her mother used to say that if Jan had not gotten scarlet fever she might have made it to the Olympics.She maintained her love of swimming and cut a graceful and beautiful figure in the water as she stroked her way through the waves.In addition to swimming, Jan loved playing tennis, hiking, bicycling, and playing softball.Shortly after moving to Oregon, she joined a softball team, the Ladybugs, sponsored by Portland drag legend, Darcelle, forging many lifelong friendships with fellow players. She also completed an impressive bike trip, peddling from Seaside, Oregon to San Francisco. Jan had many intimate, lifelong, ongoing friendships. She was proud to be a lesbian, adept at communicating what she found to be unique, significant, and special about the relationship they shared to every one of the many women in her life, coming out while there was still substantial fear around doing so.She met her true love, Nyla McCarthy, in 1977, at the prestigious Actors Production Company, where both her brother Harry, and Nyla, were company members. Jan eventually became the company Photographer. Jan and Nyla evolved their relationship for more than 42 years, until Jan’s death, with Jan becoming close friends and confidantes with Nyla's husband, Peter Bale. They truly created an inclusive family. Jan often said the “happiest years of my life were the years David, Erinna, Nyla and I lived together.”.She was ecstatic at being invited to become part of the family, committing to her role as step-mother, and loving both children wholeheartedly, ultimately adopting them as her own. David taught her how to play Magic cards and the two of them enjoyed many competitive games together. She and Erinna shared a love for Cafe Society, enjoying conversations and laughter over good food and drink. Jan recently returned with Erinna and David to Florida, where the family had spent their first year together living in the countryside of Pasco County. She wanted them to experience "her Florida". She worked hard to make sure the three of them would create fun memories. Jan particularly enjoyed sharing Erinna and David’s many accomplishments with anyone who would listen. Jan is survived by her children, David and Erinna, by Nyla, by her dog, Sarah, her protege’ Anthony, and by several beloved cousins, including Nona, Selina and Jerry Howsman, Nancy and Tim James, and Elizabeth, Emily, and Mary Frances Draper.Jan will be deeply missed by her community of chosen family and friends. Remembrances may be made in Janice’s name to Colontown, a “secret” online organization for colorectal cancer patients or to Cascade AIDS Project of Portland, Oregon. Celebration of Life held June 29, 2019 at her home in Portland, Oregon with a second one to be held in Florida, location and date to be announced.