Margaret Leola Rice
Funeral for Margaret Leola Rice, 86, of Nacogdoches will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 12, 2011, at Laird Funeral Home with Lance Standridge and the Rev. Dennis Land officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park.
Mrs. Rice died Tuesday, February 8, 2011, in Nacogdoches Medical Center. Born October 29, 1924, in Waverly, Louisiana, she was the daughter of Cookman Edward and Robbie Harrison Degges. She was a graduate of Bastrop (Louisiana) High School, playing as a guard for the team that went to the Louisiana state girls basketball finals. Leola was a devout Christian and had taught Sunday school classes for more than 30 years. She married Harlan C. Rice October 31, 1942, in Bastrop, Louisiana, and they moved to Nacogdoches, Texas, where she lived the rest of her life. In her early years, she had worked as a clerk and in bookkeeping for McCrory’s and JCPenney. When she became a mother, she devoted her time and energy to rearing three children. In later years she worked as a clerk and retouch artist for Robinson’s Studio and as a caregiver for several elderly ladies who became dear friends. Her talents included a beautiful singing voice and exceptional ability as a seamstress. She enjoyed oil painting for many years. Her handmade quilts, all created with love, are precious treasures for all her family members.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband,Harlan C. Rice on March 3, 1977; her father- and mother-in-law, the Rev. Samuel Aaron and Margaret Elizabeth Abercrombie Rice; an infant brother, Lamarris Degges; brothers, Leon Degges and Fulton Degges; and sister, Agnes Hopkins.
Survivors include a son, Ronnie Lavoy Rice of Longview, Texas; daughters, Loretta Annette Rice Cammack and husband, George, of Nacogdoches, Texas, and Karen Maritte Rice Standridge of Nacogoches, Texas; stepson, G. Larry Rice and wife, Sharon, of Frisco, Texas; grandchildren, Gregg Rice and wife, Keri, Brent Rice and wife, JoAnn, Cheryl Simmons and husband, Danny, Mike Cammack and wife, Andrea, Tammy Alvis and husband, Gordon, Robin Faulkner and husband, Jim, Lance Standridge and wife, Rebecca; and eighteen great-grandchildren who were the lights of her life.
Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, February 11, 2011, at Laird Funeral Home.
