OraBelle Rice

KAYSVILLE - On May 12, 2002, after complications from a quadruple angioplasty stentz operation, and only a few hours of discomfort, OraBelle Shumway Rice returned to her Father in Heaven and into welcoming arms of her parents and sisters who had gone before her. She was 59 years old. She was born on June 19, 1942. in Snowflake, Arizona, and graduated from Holbrook High School in Holbrook, Arizona. OraBelle married Austin Rice, Jr. on September 4, 1963, in the Arizona Temple for time and all eternity. OraBelle loved life, her husband, children, and especially her grandchildren. She understood the importance of laughter, and had her own special brand of humor. Despite suffering more than 15 years of diabetes, her kind and generous nature always came through. OraBelle earned her PHT (put husband through school) in 1969, when her husband graduated from Weber State University to be a teacher. She was very proud to help put their four sons on missions. Orabelle stood by her husband and family through thick and thin. A lot of thick and a lot of thin.

Orabelle is survived by her husband, Austin Rice Jr., of 38 years, and six children, their spouses, and nine grandchildren: Sherry Ann Rice; Royd Alma and his wife, Lisa Ann Rice, and their children, Lauren Elisabeth and Lillian Victoria; Jason Lee and his wife Merrijane Rice, and their children, Parker Barton and Nathan Charles; Paul Thomas and his wife, Antoneta Marie Rice, and their children, Janelle Alicia and McKailee; Brent Nathan and his wife, Chrishelle Ann Rice and their children, Danielle Mei and Cayden Thomas; and Shelly Allison and her husband, Sgt. Benjamin Robert Baldwin and their son, Thomas James. Orabelle is the 13th of 18 children (her husband indeed believed she was his lucky 13) of Charles Purley and Belle Brinkerhoff Shumway of Woodruff, Arizona, and was their youngest daughter. She will be greatly missed.

Funeral services will be held Friday, May 17, 2002 at 11 a.m. at the Gailey Park 2nd Ward, 331 So. 50 W., Kaysville. Friends and family may call Friday from 9 to 10:45 a.m. at the church. Funeral directors, Lindquist's Kaysville Mortuary, 400 No. Main. Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery.

e-mail condolences to the family at llm@lindquistmortuary.com

SOURCE: Deseret News, May 14, 2002