Jerry Lynn Rice

Jerry Lynn Rice was born September 14, 1949 to Thurman Crawford Rice and Jewel Juanita Pritchett Rice. He entered into heaven on May 6, 2025 at the age of 75. He was surrounded by his wife and children and grandchildren, whom he loved fiercely. As a young boy, he loved spending days in the pasture, riding his horse and tending to all the pets - chickens, his fox, and any other wild animal he could capture. He loved riding his horse over to the Swenson headquarters to hang out with Scandalous John Selmon. Scandalous was so impressed with Jerry's skills that he sent a horse home for Jerry to break at the ripe old age of 8. Jerry's country roots ran deep and while he would travel to the city with his family for various occasions, he was always in a hurry to return to the farm.
While attending Stamford High School, Jerry lived for the game of football. He was compact in size but mighty in strength and heart and received numerous awards. After graduating from Stamford High School in 1969, he went to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. After winning the national championship that year, he went on to play at Missouri Southern State College in 1970 until an injury brought his football career to an end. In 2014 the 1969 team was inducted into the NEO Athletic Hall of Fame. Jerry was an outstanding defensive player and very respected and loved by all his teammates.
After college Jerry continued to pursue his love of ranching, breaking colts and shoeing horses. He also worked in the oilfield as a mud engineer for almost 50 years, where he was actively working until the time of his death.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Patty Furr. He is survived by his brother, TC Rice Jr and Carolyn of Carrollton; his wife Cheryl; daughters, Reagan Rice of Merkel and Lynsie Paylor and husband Bryson of Tuscola; sons, Colton Rice of Boerne, Callan Rice and wife Haylee of Lingleville, Caleb Rice and wife Claire of Baird, and Conner Rice and wife Kenzie of Anson; he is also survived by his grandchildren, Brady Heuermann, Hannah Heuermann, Grace Heuermann, Tate Yardley, Ava Paylor, Lyvlee Rice, Wake Rice, Wilder Rice, William Rice, Margot Rice, and baby Cooper Lynn Rice who is due later this month; and one great grandchild Thaxton Heuermann and a host of other relatives and friends.
Jerry's life will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m. Monday, May 12, 2025 at the Bethel Assembly Church in Anson, TX with Cody Cochran officiating. Burial will follow at The Strand Family Cemetery east of Stamford under the direction of Tankersley Funeral Home. Visitation will be on Sunday afternoon from 4 to 6:00 p.m. at Tankersley Funeral Home, 807 Columbia, Stamford, TX.
Memorials may be made in Jerry's honor to Bethel Assembly Church, 101 Commercial Ave., Anson, TX 79501.
Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.tankersleyfuneralhome.com.