North Indian Cemetery

Pawnee, Pawnee County, Oklahoma

© Poteet Funeral Home
Submitted by: Terry Dudley

Janie Lois Thompson Rice

December 15, 1953 - October 24, 2025

Janie Lois Rice was born in Talihina, OK, on December 15, 1953, to Bernice and Jeremiah Thompson. She passed from this life at 71 years of age on Friday, October 24, 2025, at home with her husband, children, and grandchildren by her side.

She attended Sequoyah High School where she was a Diamondette and a Wrestling Queen Attendant. After graduating from Sequoyah in 1972, she moved to Tulsa, where she met Mitchell Rice, who fell in love with her at first sight. They were together for four years before getting married in 1978 and have been together for 53 years this year.

She started her first and only job at Bama Pie and was a valued employee for over 30 years. Janie was a devout Christian, attending church every Sunday until her sister, Loretta, passed away in 2020. But even when she was unable to attend, she maintained her faith and prayed multiple times a day for her loved ones. She enjoyed listening to gospel radio by the window with a cup of coffee and was often seen singing along. She loved her family and enjoyed spending time with them at every opportunity. She especially loved going to family dinners, picnics, and reunions. She had a deep love for animals, specifically her dogs Max, Matty, Eddie, Buster, and her cat Tiger. She enjoyed reading and listening to many audiobooks after she lost her eyesight. She loved music and would attend concerts with her family. She adored Peter Noone from Herman's Hermits and especially loved Alan Jackson. She enjoyed thrifting, shopping on QVC, and shopping in department stores. Particularly around the holidays when she looked for items to spoil every member of her family. She enjoyed collecting Native dolls, figures, and jewelry. She also liked to take care of her plants and flowers. Whenever the opportunity arose, she would attend Sequoyah High School football and basketball games with Mitchell.

Janie is survived by her husband, Mitchell Rice, daughter Melissa & and son-in-law Corey Smith, son Mark Rice & his partner Lily Guymon, grandchildren Sydney Smith, Jordan Smith, and their partner Ledi White, Mason Griggs, Parker Smith, Jamey Smith, and great-grandson Jordi Smith, and extended family members Holly & Addie Proctor. She is also survived by her sisters Elsie Lena & family, Sandra Thompson & family, Sister-in-law Clarice Tselee & family, and numerous beloved nieces & nephews.

She is preceded in death by parents Bernice & Jeremiah Thompson Sr., brothers Jeremiah Thompson Jr, Tommy Thompson & Herman Thompson, sisters Loretta Perigo & Faye Sago, and her niece Lucy Chupco. She is also preceded by her father & mother in-law Rena Goodfox Rice and Lynn Rice Sr., brothers-in-law Rodney Rice Sr, Jeffrey Rice, Darrel Rice Sr., Lynn Rice Jr., Thomas Rice Sr., sister-in-law Rosemary Rice, niece Lisa Hawkins, Nephews Kyle Jesse Mann & Mikal Rice, and her best friend Paula Whitaker.

Services will be held on Tuesday, October 28th, 2025 at the Pawnee Nation Roam Chief Event Center at 10 am. Interment will be at North Indian Cemetery, Pawnee, Oklahoma. John 16:22 "So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no will take away your joy."