There will be a live stream of the service on Saturday starting at 2 p.m. Just go to www.walkersanderson.com and click watch live webcast. For those that cannot watch it live it will be available to watch on Wayne's obituary page shortly after. __________________________________________________________________________ Wayne Pearce Obituary Wayne Evan Pearce, 84, of Provo, Utah, died unexpectedly on Monday, December 7, 2020 from complications arising from an acute bacterial infection. He was born May 12, 1936 in Salt Lake City to Kelly and Thyra Pearce, and enjoyed a childhood filled with sports, hunting, fishing, a love of the outdoors, and the love of his family. Wayne's love of tennis began when he was 12 years old, inspired by the tennis pro, Leo Kohler. Within a few years, he became the National Public Parks Champion in the 15 and under age division. He attended South High School where he won three consecutive high school state championships, and was ranked #15 nationally in the Boys 18 singles division in 1952, achieving top junior rankings in the UTA, ITA, and National Tennis Association. With a strong desire to play at a professional level and pursue his education in business and finance, he accepted a full ride athletic scholarship to the University of Miami—a renowned National tennis powerhouse. He later was recruited to play collegiate tennis at the University of Utah, where he played the number one singles position for three years under coach Harry James, capturing two Western Athletic Conference championships with his teammates in 1958 and 1960. More importantly, while attending the U of U, and under most unique circumstances, Wayne met and proposed to Carol Jean Douglas on their first date. They were married shortly thereafter in SLC on August 24, 1959. Their lives were filled with joy and happiness as they raised their five children (Evan, Leslie, Brad, Robert, and Diana) together. After receiving his bachelor's degree, and realizing that it would be very difficult to provide for his family as a professional tennis player in that era, he continued to pursue his education and received his MBA from the University of Utah. Wayne worked for Morton Thiokol while pursuing his business and investment interests, and eventually opened his own stock brokerage firm. Little did he know that his life and his future would be changed with a series of phone calls from the athletic director of Brigham Young University. They wanted him to move to Provo, Utah and become the head tennis coach. It finally took Ernest L. Wilkinson, the President of BYU, to personally call him and convince him to change his direction and come and work for them. He agreed on one condition—that they would build an indoor tennis facility—which they did. It is the same facility that is in use today. Wayne coached the BYU men's tennis team for nearly 16 years, taking five of his teams to top 10 finishes in the country, winning or sharing six conference titles, having the best winnng percentage in program history, and holding the most wins until surpassed by his son, Brad, which was a personal delight for him. Seeing the need, he was responsible for building the first indoor athletic facility in Utah County--the Sherwood Hills Racquet Club. His love of the game and his great love for people were so influential in the community that he was affectionately known as the "Father of Tennis." Wayne was much more than a tennis coach—he was a life coach, and all of his children, grand-children, and countless others can attest to his influence in their lives. He sacrificed much of his time working with each of them individually on and off the court. He was patient. He was kind. He was selfless. He was deeply involved in the lives of his children, and there was no doubt—they all knew he loved them. For nearly 40 years, Wayne also taught investments and finance classes at the BYU's Marriott School of Business. He loved to teach, but also had other interests and hobbies that brought him great personal satisfaction. Having minored in geology, and because of his love of nature and the world around him, he did a great deal of mining and gold exploration, established several mining venture companies along the way, and eventually became very involved and interested in native American Indian excavation projects in Southern Utah. He is credited with one of the great archeological finds of historical significance at the Parowan Gap, and established a museum for ancient American Indian artifacts and historical finds. As a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, it had a profound impact in the way he lived his life and served others. His favorite and most cherished calling which brought him the deepest satisfaction and personal fulfillment was that of being a Branch President --working with young missionaries at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah as they prepared to go out into the world to share the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. After the devastating loss of his first wife, Carol, to cancer in 1987, he eventually reconnected with a childhood friend, Susan Young, and they were married on August 27, 2009. Their relationship has brought him much happiness in the latter years of his life. Wayne is survived by his wife, Susan, two daughters Leslie (David) Craig and Diana (Nate) Bryson, and two sons Brad (Cindi) Pearce and Robert Pearce. His loss is also deeply felt by his grandchildren Jordan (Bryan) Marchant, Kaitlyn (Doug) Springer, Tara Pearce, Callie (Kyle) Smith, Kelsie (Ben) Wright, John Pearce, Matthew (McKenzie) Pearce, Jackson (Ashley) Bryson, Cami Craig, Kate (Daniel) Brock, Christian Craig, Kaden Craig, Joshua Pearce, Gwen Bryson, Halle Pearce, and nine precious great grandchildren. He was also beloved by Susan's children and grandchildren. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents Kelly and Thyra Pearce, his oldest son and namesake Wayne Evan Pearce (Evan) Jr., his first wife Carol Jean Douglas Pearce, and his only sibling and beloved older sister Janice Pearce. Funeral services to celebrate his life for family and close friends will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, December 12, 2020, at the Edgemont Stake Center located at 350 East 2950 North, Provo, Utah. A viewing will be held prior to the services from 12:45 – 1:45 pm. His interment will be at East Lawn Memorial Hills immediately following the service. (For those who don't feel comfortable attending the funeral service in person, here is the link for the live stream: http://mywebcast.churchofjesuschrist.org/Events/provoutahedgemontsouthstake) To watch the live stream just go on walkersanderson.com main page and click watch live webcast. Then you will find Wayne Pearce and the link will be there to be able to watch Condolences may be sent to the Pearce family online at www.walkersanderson.com