Lavina Rice

Lavina Lee (Smith) Rice, 87, of Salina, OK, passed away on March, 28, 2014 in Pryor. Lavina was born in Lowery, Oklahoma to Lester Lee Smith and Mabel Mary (Shaw) Smith on October 2, 1926. She attended Leach Elementary School and graduated from Kansas, Oklahoma in 1946. Lavina was the Vice-President of her graduating class. After high school graduation she took the state test to be a school teacher. She passed, and then taught at Buffalo Elementary School, southwest of Leach, Oklahoma, for one year. Lavina married Earl Eugene Rice on July 27, 1947 in Hartington, Nebraska. Earl's best man was his cousin, Opie Crawford and Lavina's maid of honor was Lorene (Emme) Crawford. To this union was born Clay Earl Rice, their only child. Lavina and Earl lived in several states during the first years of their marriage because of Earl's work on the pipe line. They moved back to Salina where they established their home and raised their son. Lavina and Earl, the "R" of C & R Oil Company, Inc., in Pryor were two of the co-founders of the company. Lavina was very active in the Salina American Legion Auxiliary, and a past member of the Eastern Star Chapter in Locust Grove. She was also a member of Salina First Baptist Church for the past 55 years, taught Vacation Bible School there many years, and helped in the kitchen with refreshments for the children. Because she was a stay-at-home Mom to raise her son, Lavina babysat several children in her home over the years. She loved children. She also enjoyed substitute teaching for the Salina Schools, and did so up until her late 70s'. When Clay and Tonda Jean (Littlefield) married, Lavina and Earl loved her as a daughter and were so very proud that she was a part of their family. Lavina and Earl's lives were compete with the addition of their two grandchildren, Caleb Thomas Rice and Katie Amanda Rice. They loved being called "Memaw" and Papa." Lavina leaves behind a host of family and friends. She is survived by her son Clay Earl and wife Tonda Jean (Littlefield) Rice of Pryor; grandson Caleb Thomas Rice of Colorado Springs, Colorado; granddaughter Katie Amanda Rice of Pryor; brother Jim Allison and wife Durenda of Nixa, Missouri; nephews Norman and Nelson Smith of Leach, Oklahoma; Ronnie, Billy, and Greg Rice of Salina; Randal Rice of Columbia, Missouri; nieces Jennifer Kirk and Jenna New of Leach; Kim Maddux of Ketchum; Janet Snow of Southwest City, Missouri; Vicky Rice of Muskogee; Patricia Faircloth and Susan Rice of Pryor; sisters-in-law Edna Earl Rice of Salina; and Ruby Rice of Lowry City, Missouri; along with a multitude of great nieces and nephews. Lavina is preceded in death by her husband Earl E. Rice, her dad Lester Lee Smith, her step-dad Everett Allison, her mom Mable Mary (Shaw) Smith Allison, her brother Preston (Buck) Smith, his wife Mary Smith, brother-in-law Murl Rice and wife Laverne Rice, brother-in-law Burl (Peanuts) Rice, nephews Michael and David Eugene Rice. Family visitation will be 6-8 P. M., Sunday, March 30, at Shipman's Funeral Home, Pryor, OK. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P. M. on Monday, March 31, at the First Baptist Church, Salina. Burial will follow at Ross Mayes Cemetery of Salina. Casket bearers will be Norman Smith, Nelson Smith, Ronnie Rice, Billy Rice, Greg Rice, Randal Rice, and Andrew Rice - nephews of Lavina. David Gibson will be officiating at the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Lavina's memory to the First Baptist Church of Salina Children's Ministry. To leave her family a message, please visit her Book of Memories at www.shipmansfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Shipman's Funeral & Cremation Service. The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Shipman Funeral Home, Rivercross Hospice, and the special nurses who did day-to-day care for Momma at Colonial Terrace Care Center.

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