Paul Rice

Paul Rice, 99, of Florence, passed away after a brief illness peacefully surrounded by family and friends, November 19, 2015 at his residence in Florence. Paul and his wife Louise Murphy Rice married December 28, 1938. They enjoyed a happy marriage for 64 years. He was the seventh of nine children born to William Jess Rice and Cora McKelvey Rice and grew up in the Oakland community. They moved to the North Florence area to attend Gilbert School, remembering back then they used wagons pulled by mules. He attended Central High School where he played his all-time favorite sport, baseball; graduated from Larimore Business College; and worked for Southern Railroad in Muscle Shoals until his retirement in September 6, 1978. He enjoyed his career tremendously and spoke of it often. He served his country in the U.S. Navy; was a member of the Masonic Lunar Lodge #14 FM and AM where he received his fifty and sixty-year pin. But his greatest accomplishment was being a husband and father. His favorite part of retirement was spending time with his family and especially his grandchildren and later great-grandchildren. All four grandchildren loved spending time with their granddaddy and granny. He was a faithful and dedicated charter member of North Wood United Methodist Church where his paternal and fraternal grandparents started the church over a hundred years ago.

Visitation will be held Sunday, November 22, 2015 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at North Wood United Methodist Church. The funeral service will begin at 2:30 p.m. with the Rev. Kenny Baskins and the Rev. Scott Coats officiating. Singing will be Jeff Hornbuckle. Burial will follow in Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens.

Mr. Rice was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Murphy Rice; granddaughter, Tracy Leigh Babcock Witt; parents, Will and Cora McKelvey Rice; brothers, Allen, James, William, Claude, JW, and Grandville Rice; sisters, Annie Leigh White, and Pauline Howard.

He is survived by his daughters, Paula Rice Babcock (Roger), Betty Ann Rice McCrary (Billy); grandchildren, Dr. Paul McCrary (Lisa), Mary Beth Stewart (Randy), Debra Denise Babcock Lester (Howard); grandson-in-law, David Witt; great-grandchildren, Sara Lester Phillips (Drew), Kate Lester Mansell (Gary), David Lee Witt, Rachel Witt, Michael Lester, Andrew Witt, Haley Stewart, Allie Stewart; Murphy McCrary, and Vaughn McCrary; great-great-grandchildren, Brantley and Braxton Phillips, and Brody Mansell; and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

Active pallbearers will be Lee Witt, Andrew Witt, Vaughn McCrary, Michael Lester, Howard Lester, Randy Stewart, David Witt, and Dr. Paul McCrary.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Good Shepherd Class, Goodwill Fellowship Rook playing ladies, and special friends.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Hospice of the Shoals nurses, Laura Green, Deb McCoy, Emily McDonald, and Jan Sheppard; and his caregivers, Angie Threet, Jennifer Haynes, and Dr. Tim Atchey.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to North Wood United Methodist Church, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or a charity of your choice. 

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