James Torbett “Harpo” Pierce, 84, passed away on October 15, 2026, in Waco, Texas. He was born on November 19, 1941, in Lampasas, Texas, to Albert Torbett Pierce and Charlene Whitley Pierce.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Tobey Cemetery in Oakalla, Texas.
Harpo was raised in Naruna, Texas, in his early years, and later moved to Oakalla, Texas, where he spent the biggest part of his life. He attended grade school in Oakalla, and his high school years were spent at Briggs High School until graduating in 1960. He married Floydell Estis Ferguson on August 19, 1961, at Oakalla Baptist Church. They made their home on the Lampasas River in Oakalla, Texas, living there for 60 years and raising two sons, James Lendol Pierce and John Torbett Pierce.
Harpo had several occupations during his life. He was a printer at Carter Printing in Killeen, an assistant manager at Craig’s Record Shop in Killeen, a selfemployed rock layer, a certified firefighter at Ft. Hood, and was an accomplished vegetable gardener, selling his veggies around the area. He greatly enjoyed the country life and was an avid hunter and fisherman. It was always Harpo’s hope that at the end of his days, he would end up in the “Happy Hunting Grounds.”
Harpo was preceded in death by his wife, Floydell Pierce; his parents, Albert Torbett Pierce and Charlene Whitley Cantwell; his step-father, Lendol O.
Cantwell; and his greatgrandson, Whitt Michael Martin.
He is survived by his sons, James Lendol Pierce (Marilee) of Lampasas, and John Torbett Pierce (Guiselle) of Temple; his grandchildren, Jacie Martin (Justin) of Eldorado, Texas, Breck Pierce (Jessica) of Lampasas, Texas, Robert Pierce (Monica) of Wylie, Texas, and Quinn Pierce (Grace) of Wylie, Texas; his great-grandchildren, Gracie Martin Childress (Kolby), Eisley Pierce, Noah Pierce, and Conor Pierce; his sister-in-law, Judy Carlile of Burnet, and a number of nieces and nephews.