Russell Lee Solice

Solice, Russell Lee
May 23, 1966 - Aug. 15, 2015
Russell Lee Solice, 49, of Sarasota, FL formerly of Lake Charles, LA walked through the pearly gates to be with his heavenly father on Aug. 15, 2015.
Survived by his beloved wife of 17 years, Dianne; loving daughters, Mary Eastwood and Ashley Patterson; siblings, Jackie Solice Ritchie (Alvin), Don Solice (Debbie), Ronnie Solice (Raelyn), Christy Solice, Wendy Solice Bergeron, Mickey Solice (Sandy) and Mack Solice and numerous nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Debbie Solice.
Russell Solice is one of the heroes of my life. Heroes are hard to define and hard to recognize until we see them in action. When David was a shepherd boy, he didn't look like a hero. When King Saul was selected as King, he stood a head and shoulders taller than the other men. Saul looked like a hero. David demonstrated what it meant to be a hero, though when the situation arose that a hero was needed.
Russell was a quadraplegic. He lived in his bed and in his motorized wheelchair. In high school, he played baseball. As an athletic young man, he would have appeared to be more of a hero then. One night he was in a car with a friend and an accident resulted in his becoming a quadraplegic.
When I met him, Russell was a nice guy, but not really fulfilled and happy. How can you be fulfilled and happy in his situation. He did have an incredible wife, however, and two great daughters. The house was filled with love. When Russell accepted Jesus, the process began. He was the real evidence of Jesus transforming a life form the inside out. Russell didn't sit and feel sorry for himself in his situation. He got excited about what God wanted him to do and he started doing it. He phoned people who were hurting or suffering... including those who were feeling sorry for themselves. Russell cared. He'd call and encourage and pray with them. Many of them realized that, compared to Russell's situation, theirs was not so bad. Some of those people called me weeping, that this man who had to lay in bed or just ride in his chair, cared enough to call and pray for them. Russell had become what Jesus would call an 'overcomer' and was helping others to overcome.
When I think of all the lives he has touched, I don't think his influence will ever end. Russell has gone. Gone where? To the place that God has prepared for him, a place with two good arms and two good legs a whole new body. I'd have to say, though, that he did an awful lot of good in the body he had.
Are you feeling sorry for yourself? How's that working for you? Self-pity accomplishes nothing. Jesus in your life brings it all to life. God can always use a few more heroes like Russell.
A Celebration of Life will be held on September 5, 2015 at 11:00 am at Colonial Oaks Baptist Church, Sarasota, FL.