Pierce Family

Dear family, friends, and anyone who's been touched by suicide,

I started this gofundme page to raise money for a dear family Ben and I had the pleasure to get to know while living in El Paso. Ben worked and was deployed with Kris and we were lucky enough to get to know his wife Lida and their family. Lida was a beautiful and caring friend and mother who was also a wonderful cook, dancer, and who's hospitality couldn't be matched. She lit up the room when she walked in and had a smile that was contagious. She was an amazing person both inside and out.

Lida took her life January 26th. There is no way I can tell the story more beautifully than Kris did, so with Kris' permission, I'm attaching his post:

I hate to do this, but I'm going to use this medium to tell all of you something very hard to hear. I'm just incredibly drained by calling people individually and explaining the story every time. I wish I had more energy to devote so that I could, Lord knows Lida absolutely hated FB being used like this.
On Thursday, January 26, Lida decided she needed to leave to seek help for mental and emotional issues. She did just enough to make me believe that was her plan, so I let her go. At 512 pm Colorado time she sent me 4 texts. Innocent to some, they crushed me. I saw the texts at 530 pm, ran upstairs to my drawer to check my pistol, but in its place I only found an old letter I had written...framed and exactly where my gun used to be. I immediately texted her and called her...but her phone was already off. I simultaneously called 911, rousing all of Fort Carson to look for her for over 7 hours. At 1 am, after further discussion with the MPs, it hit me where she was. The reservoir we used to go fishing at as a family. They found her there, with a self inflicted gun shot wound to the head. Lida is no longer with us and although that may be unbearable for some of you to imagine, it is the reality we are faced with.
I know you're all gonna say the right things, and I appreciate you, but I feel so so so guilty. No matter what anyone says, I've never let someone down in my life. I've pulled soldiers out of burning send blown up vehicles, I've saved people from choking on parts of their face after getting shot...I've done a lot of things to never leave someone on an island. This is something and someone that I don't know if I can ever let go of the guilt about...but I will endure.
The boys. The boys are hanging tough. They are surrounded by so, so, so many people that are here for them and me. I smiled last night, bc I couldn't help but see how happy everyone was eating food send playing games and feel Lida's presence. In some ways what she did was so selfish, but I can't help to believe that some part of her felt this was a sacrifice she was making to ultimately bring so much love and joy into our home, as she has done for many, many meals and holidays.
In closing, I hope I can face each one of you and you can forgive me. Forgive me if I wasn't able to call you and let you know in person. Forgive me for using this digital, heartless medium to give you this heartbreaking news. And please forgive me for not protecting Lida...I just forgot that sometimes people need protection from themselves too....I will not fail our boys...Lida's last words to me were to take care of them, and to be patient at times, but she knew I'd do great....I won't fail, I'm hurt, badly. But not broken. We will endure, one painful day at a time...all of us, together.
-Kris


There is little anyone can do to comfort them right now, and I've struggled with ways to help them. The last thing they need to be worried about is money. I've set this page up to help pay travel, funeral, and really any other expense that may come up for Kris and the boys during this trying time.

If you know this family, or have ever been touched by suicide or mental illness, and feel inclined to help, please do. Thank you for reading their story, and please keep them in your prayer.