Marie Copeland Peirce McDonnell

Marie McDonnell of Drexel, Missouri departed this life on Thursday, November 22, 2018. Marie was born January 11, 1925 near Merwin, Missouri to Marion Lester and Nettie Mae (Dowdle) Copeland.

Marie graduated from Merwin, Missouri High School in 1943. After graduating from Business College in Kansas City, Missouri, she was employed by Brian Brass Company in Kansas City, Missouri.

In 1946 she moved to Tacoma, Washington to help her sister and brother-in-law with their gas station and cafe. There she met her future husband, Harley Peirce. They were married, June 6, 1947, and had three children, Larry, Jimmie, and Dale. After Harley passed away while stationed at Fort Riley Kansas, Marie moved back to Butler, Missouri. While living in Butler, Marie met and then married J.H. McDonnell on July 31, 1954, adding three children to her family, Jim, Patricia, and Merrilee. To this marriage, another son, Dean, was added to complete the family.

While living in the Archie/Drexel area, Marie and J.H. were diversified farmers raising cattle, sheep, and briefly angora goats and buffalo. They also raised grain, marketed hay, cut and delivered many, many cords of wood, and raised and sold produce at the Farmer’s Market.

Marie loved God, her husband, and her family. She was an avid gardener, taught Sunday School classes, served on the church board and was the oldest living member of Everett Church, an active member of the Eastern Star, board member of the VFW Auxiliary, 4-H leader, board member of the Farmer's Market and was an amazing Mother.

She loved working in the garden but Marie always had time for family whether playing cards, enjoying grandchildren, or attending the activities they were participating in at school or church.

Marie made sure her family knew Jesus Christ not only by attending church faithfully, but more importantly by living by example what a Christian should be and do. Her faith allowed her to overcome many adversities in her life.

Besides her parents, and two husbands, she was preceded in death by brothers, Lester, Donnie and Allen Copeland; sisters, Mildred and Mabel Copeland, Ruby Bagby and Elsie Lacy and grand-daughter, Mindy McDonnell.

Marie is survived by 7 children, Jim and Nancy McDonnell, Archie, Missouri, Larry and Wendy Peirce, Pleasant Hill, Missouri, Jim Peirce, Drexel, Missouri, Dennis and Patricia Barnard, Raymore, Missouri, Dale and Barbara Peirce, Amarillo, Texas, Larry and Merrilee Honaker, Drexel, Missouri, Dean and Randy McDonnell, Archie, Missouri; 23 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Glenn Copeland, Rotan, Texas; 2 sisters, Nadine Semsch, Freeman, Missouri, Fern Coffel, Sedalia, Missouri; several sisters-in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

Funeral services were held Friday, November 30, 2018 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri with burial in the Reid Cemetery near Harrisonville, Missouri.

The family received friends Thursday, November 29, 2018 at the funeral home.

A Eastern Star service was held Thursday, November 29, 2018 at the funeral home.

The family suggest that memorial contributions may be made to the Everett Church Memorial Fund.