Her work here is done.  Okla Jean (Okie) Rice passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 28, 2018, in Georgetown, Texas. After a well-lived life spanning ninety years, she is reunited with her beloved husband, Bill, and with other family members and friends whom she has not seen in a long time.

The youngest of six children, Okie was born in Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, on January 17, 1928. She was educated at Oklahoma Baptist University and earned a Master's Degree in Counseling from Texas Tech.

Okie held positions in the Lubbock public schools for many years, first teaching Spanish followed by Distributive Education at Monterey High School, then working primarily at Estacado High School where she served as a vocational counselor.  She was recognized by the state of Texas as Vocational Counselor of the Year, quite an honor in her field of work.

On May 28, 1950, Okie married the love of her life, Bill Rice, of Rhea, Oklahoma. Their sixty-one year marriage produced one daughter, Carla Pennington, of Georgetown, Texas (married to Jay Pennington), and one son, Bruce Rice, of Boulder, Colorado (married to Lisa Rice).

Okie and Bill have four grandchildren—Rachel, Rebecca, David, and Lauren—six great grandchildren, and many loving in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Okie spent most of her married life in Lubbock.  There she served the local community for more than fifty years. She often delivered Meals on Wheels.  For many years she taught Sunday School class at First Baptist Church. She lived out her Christian faith every day, with a legacy of tireless and loving service.  Okie read her Bible daily, served others before herself, always had a kind word, and never harbored a grudge.

Through her extraordinary example, Okie, a child of the Depression, taught us many valuable lessons including:  how to live frugally and contentedly with what we have, a good work ethic, the importance of sacrificial service, commitment to marriage, the value of education, and that people are happier when they are fed.

Okie was known for her devotion to family and friends, limitless energy, pecan pie, egg-in-toast for the grandkids, a love of sports (especially the Red Raiders), her skill at managing Bill and Bruce's summer fish camp in the Rockies, her help with countless loads of laundry for Carla's family, proper grammar (and gently correcting those who needed it), feeding a crowd at a moments' notice, and doing it all at warp speed.

Those friends and family who have had the great privilege to know Okie may now mourn for their loss, though we should all feel more gratitude than grief because this very special woman has passed through our lives. We know that Jesus welcomes Okie into heaven with open arms.  We have peace and joy knowing that her memory is restored, that her body is redeemed, that she is more alive than ever before, and that she now dances on streets of gold.

Okie was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Bertha (Buchanon) Sheffield, her husband, Bill Rice, and her five (5) siblings, Florence Looper, Dick Sheffield, JB Sheffield, Joe Sheffield, Jr., and Fowler Sheffield.

In lieu of flowers, memorize a Bible verse, learn a new recipe, read a book, strike up a conversation with a stranger, serve someone a meal, or give to one of the following charities:  Leedey Fire Department, Meals on Wheels in Lubbock, Texas or the T.E.A.M. Ministry in Mexico (http://www.gofogel.com/give).

Okie would like that.

We love you and will miss you Mokie.......

may flights of angels carry you home.