Norman L. Rice

Mr. Norman Lee Rice, age 93, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home on East Pinnacle Road, Roland, AR Monday morning February 2nd, 2009. Born in a log cabin overlooking the Arkansas River on December 6, 1915 at Stony Point, AR, he served generations of Arkansas youth honorably by educating and mentoring them for almost 40 years during his career as a highly respected public schoolteacher and principal. A compassionate, long-time servant to all within the communities of Natural Steps and Pinnacle, he was a loving husband and devoted father, a noted Bible scholar and teacher of scripture, an avid hunter and fisherman, a master gardener, a nature lover and a bird watcher. He was a guitarist and vocalist; one of his greatest passions was singing Handel�s Messiah every Christmas as a member of the Arkansas Choral Society from 1953 to 1989. As a teenager during The Great Depression, he helped to construct public projects throughout Arkansas while serving in the Civilian Conservation Corps. Raised to work hard on a farm, Mr. Rice later worked his way through college serving in FDR�s New Deal National Youth Administration, the NYA, eventually graduating in 1947 from Arkansas State Teacher�s College (UCA) in Conway. Preceded in death by his parents Zelma and Frank B. Rice, Sr., son, Michael David Rice, and sister, Violet Rice, he is survived by his loving, devoted wife of 61 years Vernice; son Dr. Norman Dewaine Rice and wife Cheryl of Germantown, TN; son Randall Rice, wife Lori and granddaughter Bailee of Everett, WA; daughter Evonne and husband Randall Nusz of North Little Rock, AR. He is also survived by granddaughter Cherina and husband Sean Kelly of Brisbane, Australia; grandson Anthony Rice, wife Kelly, great granddaughter Samantha and great grandson A.J. of Collierville, TN; granddaughter Stacy, husband Dr. Jeremy Thomas and great granddaughter Abigail of Germantown, TN. He is survived also by two sisters and a brother; Ms Glola Rice of Perryville, AR; Ms Gertrude Rice of Houston, AR; Dr. Frank B. Rice, Jr. of Kirkland, WA. The entire Rice family is deeply grateful to the host of Norman and Vernice�s friends and neighbors, Norman�s in-home caregiver Ms Debra Wright as well as the staff of Arkansas Hospice and the staff of Hospice Home Care�s in-patient facility. Family visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Thursday February 5th at North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St., North Little Rock, AR 72114, (501) 758-1170. Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM Friday February 6th at Little Rock West Assembly of God Church, 16403 Taylor Loop Road, Little Rock, AR 72223, (501) 868-5000. Interment will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday at the May Cemetery in Houston, AR, Perry County. Online obituary and guest registry at www.nlrfh.com.