RAYEANNE (PIERCE) LEAL

February 19, 1970 - April 30, 2021

RayeAnne joined her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 30th, 2021 in Bakersfield, California, at the age of 51 after battling a rare form of cancer for more than 5 years.

She was born February 19, 1970 in Neptune, New Jersey and spent most of her childhood in Coalinga, California. Later, her family moved to Bakersfield during her Senior year of high school. Most of RayeAnne’s work revolved around the teaching of young children and she had multiple jobs in the field, culminating with her last job as a special needs Teacher’s Aide for Fruitvale School District. It was her calling and she loved helping children learn and grow. Additionally, RayeAnne excelled at photography, was active in a local amateur photography club for many years, and specialized in photographing infants and young children. She was also an active member of her church, Family Community Fellowship. In the year prior to becoming ill, she was led to spend a week in San Pedro Sula, Honduras on a missions trip to love on the children at the New Hope Opportunities Compound.

RayeAnne is survived by her husband Anthony Leal, daughters Heather White and Kayla Leal, sons-in-law James White and Sean Smith, her mother Jacare Davis, sisters Virginia Cummings and Suzanne Pierce, her uncle Donald Pierce, several nieces and nephews, her in-laws Mark and Rosemary Leal, special friends Kari, Karin, and Sandy, and her three dogs and a cat.

RayeAnne was preceded in death by her Father, Richard Dean Pierce, and her first husband, Christopher Kyle Barton.

The family would like to thank Pastors Steven and Mardi Yeary and all of FCF church family, Dr. Vinh-Linh Nguyen and all of his staff at Bakersfield Hematology Oncology, Nurses Jacqueline and Michelle of Hoffman Hospice, Nurse Jaime of Around the Clock, and everyone else who cared for RayeAnne during her illness.

A private graveside service has been scheduled, and a public Celebration of Life service is scheduled for 11:30 am on Thursday, May 13th at Family Community Fellowship church, 10700 Brimhall Road.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation here: www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/donate/