Thomas Raymount Pierson Jr. ,age 70, of Sapphire died Wednesday January 12, 2011. He was born January 6,1941 in Bergen County, New Jersey to the late Thomas R. Pierson Sr. and Edith Luff Pierson. Tom retired from the Fort Lee New Jersey Police Dept. as Deputy Chief. He was a member of the Fort Lee Volunteer Fire Dept. He started the first Critical Incident Stress Awareness Team in New Jersey and expanded it into a state wide network. After retirement he moved to Pennsylvania, and was involved with search and rescue training and working dogs to provide assistance in finding lost people. As a resident of Sapphire he helped established the Valley Dog Park and was instrumental in bringing back The Craft Shows to The Sapphire Valley. Survivors include his wife Chris, his five dogs, two brothers; Charles Pierson of New Hampshire and, Robert Pierson of New Jersey, one sister; Mrs. Martha Guy of Charlotte and several nieces, nephews. Memorial services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to: Friends for Life, P.O. Box 340 Sapphire, NC 28774 or Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society, P.O. Box 638 Cashiers NC 28717.