Philip passed peacefully to his eternal rest. Phil was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, and uncle to his entire family. Phil was born in Taylor, Arizona, the next to the youngest of eight children. His early life was filled with many challenges and hardships, but Phil had a positive attitude, an incredible work ethic and never faltered from hard work to help support his mother Elida Frost Pearce, and family.
As a teenager Phil worked in the mines in Arizona and later Nevada, where he met his wife Lorna Tayler. Theirs was a whirlwind courtship. After knowing each other for only a few weeks they got married in Tonapah, Nevada. They later moved to Alameda, California, where they began to raise their two children, Merle Kent and Pamala.
They were active in the Morman Church in Alameda. After deciding they wanted to raise their children in the country, Phil and Lorna, along with other church members moved to San Juan Bautista. They purchased land up San Juan Canyon Road. Individual Morman families owned their own lots and built individual homes.
Phil and Lorna were devoted parents to their two children. They raised their children with love, hard work and a strong moral ethic. Phil became a plumbing contractor in Salinas. Lorna first worked in Salinas as a dental assistant, then later as Phil’s office manager for his plumbing business.
They remained in their home up San Juan Canyon Road after retiring and continued to love their family, their faith and their home. Lorna died in 1995 and Phil continued to live in his home until his health began to fail. At this time Phil’s daughter Pamala moved Phil up to Sonoma County to better oversee his care and insure Phil had a comfortable, loving, peaceful end of his years and his life.
Phil is survived by his son, Merle Kent Pearce, (June), daughter Pamala Pearce Milia (Gate), grandchilden Michael (deceased), Angela (John), Chantelle, Seth, and his only great-grandchild, Piper.
Numerous family and friends deeply miss Phil. He was a vibrant, hard working, unpretentious and generous man to everyone. May he rest in peace. You are loved and missed Dad.
