Mary Louise Rice

 Mary Louise Rice passed from this life into the next on June 17, 2024, at the age of 94. Mary was born to Safe Glenn Stratton and Ollie Roan Stanford on October 19, 1929, in Hennessey, Oklahoma. She was the third of three children born to the couple.

 After Mary’s graduation from Maysville High School in 1947 at the age of 17, she and Edgar Long Rice were married on May 26, 1947, in Grayson County, Texas. They lived in the Story Community and were blessed with two children, Teresa Ellen and Keith Lyle.

 A very active member of Story Baptist Church, where her husband was a deacon, Mary served in any capacity in which she was needed: Sunday School and Training Union Teacher, Vacation Bible School instructor, Falls’ Creek sponsor and cook; she also served in various offices in the church and was a member of Women’s Missionary Union. She was engaged in La Madre Mothers’ Club, was a wonderful cook and seamstress, could crochet anything, loved to craft, and had two green thumbs.

 Mary spoke often of her job cooking for Story School. She made home-made meals and fresh bread every day for the students for many years. She remembered the children and her time there fondly. After the closing of the school, Mary took a job and continued expanding her knowledge at the Garvin County Courthouse in the Office of County Assessor.

 Mary had the joy of seeing her only grandson, Matthew Kyle Smith born in 1976. They spent many summers together and even traveled to the west coast and Canada. He was the apple of her eye, only to be outdone in 2003 and 2005 when her two great-grandchildren were born. She spent summers playing with and doting on her great-grandchildren. One summer she even had land leveled and a pool set up for them. She organized scavenger hunts. They picked fresh berries from her lovely gardens. There were tents erected. There was not a summer camp around to rival their adventures.

 Tired of this world and ready to meet Jesus, Mary passed away peacefully at home. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Edgar and their son Keith, her parents, her brother Jack and his wife Shirley, and her sister Margaret and her husband Lloyd Edward James. Surviving her are her daughter, Teresa Ellen Smith, grandson Matthew Smith and wife Emily, great-grandchildren, Gabriel Ethan Smith and Abigail Nicole Smith, her nephew Glenn James and wife Sharron, and other family members.

 The family of Mary Rice thank Cathy Holloway and Tim and Vivian Sisco for the care they gave Mary during her last days, as well as numerous community members who showed her kindness and grace down through the years.

 Mary never let too much time go by after meeting someone before she got around to the business of asking if they were a Christian. It was important to her. So, on her behalf, we ask, Do you know Jesus?