Obituary of Leoria Rice

Leoria Rice was born in Tazewell, Tennessee on August 5, 1936. She was the youngest of twelve children born from the union of the late Samuel Lambert and Martha (Hensley) Lambert. Leoria married Edgar Rice in Middlesboro, Kentucky on October 9, 1950, and from this union would come the birth of six children: Kathleen, Anita, Donna, Edwin, Eddie, and Tommy. Leoria was a member of Mount Pleasant Church in Tazewell, Tennessee before moving to the Monroe area in the 1950s where she attended Frenchtown Missionary Baptist Church. She served her family as a devoted homemaker. Leoria was strong willed and a very hard worker. She was caring with a servant's heart, sharing whatever she could with those around her. Family was extremely important to her and she spent as much time as possible with all of them. Leoria enjoyed crocheting and making crafts. She was gifted with a green thumb, enjoying the planting of flowers every spring, working in her garden, and canning vegetables. Leoria Rice, age 78, of Monroe passed away on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at Mercy Memorial Hospital. In addition to her parents her passing was preceded by six brothers: Lincoln Lambert, Hubert Lambert, Buford Lambert, Thomas Lambert, and Luther Lambert; three sisters: Gipsie Massingill, Patsy Anderson, Rettie Hill; son: Eddie Rice; grandson: Eddie Carson Rice; great great granddaughter: Kera Mills, and son in law: Jerry Lambert. To cherish her memory she leaves her loving husband of sixty-three years: Edgar Rice; five children: Kathleen Rice Lambert of Tazewell, Tennessee, Anita and Bill Kibert of Sneedville, Tennessee, Donna and Bill Omler of Monroe, Edwin and Karen Rice of Monroe, and Tommy and Becky Rice of Monroe; sisters: Lillie Smith and Loria Swope; fifteen grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and six great-great grandchildren. Friends may gather from 2:00pm until 8:00pm, Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at Merkle Funeral Service, 2442 North Monroe Street (734) 384-5185. A Celebration of Her Life will take place at 11:00am on Wednesday, October 1, 2014 also at Merkle's with Pastor BJ McDaniel officiating. Procession will follow to Historical Woodland Cemetery for burial. Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort, share a photo, or send a floral arrangement by visiting www.merklefs.com and then selecting; Online Tributes page. Donations may be made to the family.