Michael Ray "Mike" Rice
Jul 21, 1947 - Aug 28, 2020
Posted by Martha Reddout

©Marietta Monitor
4 Sep 2020 Page 4

On Friday, August 28, 2020, Michael Ray Rice, loving husband, father and grandfather passed away at age 73 with his family by his side.

Mike was born July 21, 1947 in Ardmore to Gene and Juanita Jordan Rice. He grew up around Marietta, hauling hay and attending Greenville High School where he graduated in 1965. It was at Greenville that he met his high school sweetheart, Marilyn Jean Peery. They married on June 24, 1965 and raised two children, Michael and Natasha. Mike received a bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1973, working for several different oil field contractors until he started with Atwood Oceanics out of Houston. He worked for Atwood’s over 35 years, traveling and living with his family overseas in England, Singapore, Borneo, Indonesia and many other places. As a family they enjoyed many fun and amazing memories exploring other countries and cultures. Mike had a real love of fishing from when he was younger, setting trotlines down on the Red River. Over the years, he enjoyed many hunting, fishing, and camping trips with his son, daughter, friends and family down to the Gulf, Colorado, Alaska, Lake Texoma, Lake Murray and especially down on the old Red River. He also loved making music, teaching himself as a young man to play guitar, fiddle, banjo and harmonica. Mike also enjoyed watching his grandson Harlin take up music, learning to play many instruments, sing, march in band and play sports. In 2015, Mike was baptized at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Ardmore and in Easter of 2016 came into full communion with the Catholic Church. He was kind, generous, loving and hardworking. He will be deeply missed.

Mike was preceded in death by his father, Gene Rice; loving stepfather, Almer Brewer; devoted mother, Juanita Brewer; brother, Donald Rice; and son, Michael John Peery Rice.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn; daughter, Natasha and partner Deborah; grandsons, Harlin Rice and Braxton Bivins; niece, Donna Vickers; and many extended family members and dear friends.

Services were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, September 2 in the Craddock Memorial Chapel, Ardmore.

Interment followed at Woodberry Forest Cemetery, Madill.

Special thanks goes to the staff at Cross Timbers Hospice for their attention and care during this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Children’s Shelter of Southern Oklahoma or the American Cancer Society.

Online guest book: craddockfuneralhome.com

This obituary included a photo of Mr. Rice.