Celeste M. Pierce

1957 ~ 2019

Celeste Pierce (Crnkovich), age 62, passed away on February 18, 2019 in Reno, NV after a long battle with metastatic breast cancer.

Celeste graduated from Bellevue High School (East), in Bellevue, NE in 1975 and attended Regis College (now Regis University) in Denver, CO receiving a B.A. in Political Science in 1979. Although Colorado has it’s beautiful mountains, it was a warmer climate and the ocean that called to Celeste. She moved to Cupertino, CA in 1980 where she met her future husband and obtained a certificate as a para-legal from Santa Clara University. She began her career as a litigation assistant with several law firms in Silicon Valley.

Celeste enjoyed hiking, camping, and boating in California, plus visits to the beach. She also had a warm spot in her heart for stray animals and rescued several dogs and cats that became beloved pets. She was generous with friends and family, alike. And, she made a great sandwich!

Celeste and Dennis moved to Morgan Hill, CA in 1999 where Celeste continued her career as an independent legal assistant. In 2016 they moved to Dayton, NV where Celeste joined the State of Nevada, Attorney General’s Office, as a Legal Researcher assigned to the Nevada Department of Transportation.

She was preceded in death by her father, George A. Crnkovich, also of Bellevue.

Celeste is survived by her husband of 29 years Dennis Pierce of Dayton, NV and mother Dolores Crnkovich of Bellevue, NE, brothers Greg Crnkovich of Jacksonville, FL, Dr. Timothy Crnkovich (Sue Ward) of Omaha, NE, Christopher Crnkovich(Hilary) of Chicago, IL, and Dr. Frank Crnkovich (Patricia) of Littleton, CO.

Memorials may be sent to your local chapter of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).