Elizabeth Marie (Rice) Rice, born September 6, 1936, passed away peacefully to be with her Heavenly Father on Tuesday afternoon, November 13, 2018.  Born in Gainsville, Texas, Elizabeth was baptized in 1937 by her grandfather William Sievers at First United Methodist Church of Monthalia, Texas.  With her father being a military doctor, their family moved around a lot from Texas to Missouri and North Carolina and back to Texas and again.  She spent her formative years in Marshall and Diboll, Texas. After graduating from Diboll High School in 1955, Elizabeth attended Texas Women ' s College in Denton, Texas for a year and then returned to south central Texas to be near her family and work in Austin. While living in Austin, she met William " Bill " Rice, Sr

Liz, known as Betsy by her family, married Bill on September 13, 1957, in Austin, Texas. Austin is the place where they began their family but moved to Yoakum shortly thereafter.  In the early days, she taught Sunday School with her husband at Austin Street Baptist Church. She loved Jesus very much and loved to teach her children about His awesome grace and mercy. Her faith in the Lord was always her pillar in the calm and her anchor in the storms.

Elizabeth decided to be a stay-at-home mother as her first and foremost career. Over the course of a decade, she brought five beautiful children into the world, and preceded to spend the entirety of her life instilling godly wisdom and a zeal for righteousness into their hearts. Elizabeth's impact consequently effected the lives of her many grandchildren and great grandchildren to follow.

After her last child started school, she started back in the work force.  Conoco Company gave her the opportunity to show her office administrative skills which then led to her USF&G Insurance Company.  At the same time as her husband decided to start his own business, USF&G decided to leave Texas giving Elizabeth the chance to stay in Tomball to work side-by-side with the love of her life, Bill Rice, as the CEO of Construction Analysts and Associates.

Elizabeth is survived by her husband William E. Rice, Sr., brother Lee Roy Rice, MD and wife Linda, sons William E. Rice, Jr. and wife Jill, Neal Rice and wife Cathy, Garner Rice and wife Minnie, daughters Suzanne Strain and husband Todd, and Sharon Gace and husband Troy; grandchildren Brittney Puller and husband Ethan, Ryan Sizemore, Tamitha Rice, Jean Quintens and husband Todd, Destini Rice, Celise Rice, John Rice, Hunter Odom, Hannah Strain, Joy Gace, Madison Strain, Rylee Odom, Seth Gace, and Emma Strain; great grandchildren Layla Quintens, Franny and Aiden Puller, and Waylon Washburn. There are many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly. She is preceded in death by her father Lee Roy Rice, MD, her mother Marie Rice, her sister Mazie Gillen, and grandson Christian Gace.

The family will receive friends and loved ones for a visitation at Klein Funeral Home on Sunday, November 18, 2018 from 5-8pm at Klein Funeral Home, 1400 W. Main, Tomball, TX 77375.  A funeral service for Elizabeth will be held on Monday, November 20, 2018 at 2pm in the chapel of Klein Funeral Home, with burial to follow in Klein Memorial Park 249.