Mamie Florence Rice

Sadly, Force of Nature, Mamie Rice (aka Mame Rice, aka Sparky Rice) passed away February 28th 2022. Born August 10, 1924 in North Bend, Ohio, she passed peacefully due to natural causes. She was preceded in death by her husband Louis W. Rice in 1990. She is survived by her four children, Jean Richards, Sue Dalton, Steve Rice and Linda Rice. Seven grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson thus far. She loved each of us fiercely, and would occasionally whack us on the head with a metal spoon, both literally and metaphorically when we needed it. And we are grateful for it. She was a city girl who lived many places: Cincinnati, Northern KY, and Clarksville TN from birth to age 19. It was this experience that taught her adaptability and honed her survival skills. She was a farm wife out of her element at first, she could literally catch poison ivy from a breeze. But determined to be the best farm wife she could be, she put her head up, not down, and went to work. Ultimately she became well known for her Thanksgiving sized home cooked meals during planting season, the harvest, or any given Sunday afternoon. She was ambitious, in the 60’s, when ambition in a woman was a threat to both men and women. But she wanted her kids to have more opportunities than what she saw on the horizon and, she persevered. So she went to work for Avon, selling door to door and ultimately those adaptability skills that she learned as a child from all those moves, paid off. Within a year, she made District Mgr. there were 346 women selling for her and calling the house. She flourished. Made #1 sales in the nation in one quarter, and consistently placed in the top ten for several years. a terrific motivator to some and mentor to others. At one point, she spoke at a sales conference in Philadelphia without notes, and brought 2000 people to their feet. Be they staff, acquaintances, family or perfect strangers who looked like they could use a bit of encouragement or a fair shake she would offer that encouragement or affirmation. That was the talent that growing up depression poor, and from the wrong side of the tracks provided her. She will be sorely missed. But there will be many stories told over the next decades because, after all, a Force of Nature stands the test of time. Our family would like to recognize Regina Lahmann for her many years of excellent medical care because Sparky was indeed robust well into her 90’s! The kindness, compassion and expertise of the staff at Cape May has been exemplary, notably: Cayla, Tori, Matthew, Jeanelle, Tessa, Tom, Carolyn, Maggie, Teresa, Sally, Suzanne, Terri, Megan, Kristi, Chelsea, Mary, Heather, Emma and Elianna. These are angels without wings who have shared our tears and eased our family’s journey. Family will receive friends at Evans Funeral Home, 1944 State Route 28, Goshen, on Saturday, March 5th from 10 AM until time of funeral services beginning at 11 AM. Masks would be appreciated to protect auto immune compromised family members. Internment will follow at Sugar Grove Cemetery in Wilmington, Ohio.