AVON PARK, Fla. – Mary Elizabeth Cox Rice, 85, formerly of Presque Isle, died Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Bridgeport, Conn., and was the wife of the late Howard Pottle Rice. She was born Oct. 28, 1922, in Perry, a daughter of the late Edward and Susan Cox. Mrs. Rice was a retired certified nurses’ assistant in the nursing home industry. She was an active member of First United Methodist Church, Avon Park, Fla. She was the secretary of United Methodist Women for eight years, chairperson of her circle No. 1 of United Methodist Women, member of the church missions committee, weekly volunteer at the church service center, financial secretary of First United Methodist Church for eight years and secretary/treasurer of the “Welcome” Adult Sunday school class for 12 years. With her church, she was an active participant in the hosting of 975 volunteers who served the community in hurricane relief. She was also the oldest member of two disaster work teams to the Gulf Coast, one to New Orleans and another to Picayune, Miss. As the eldest of all volunteers she was well known to out-work her much younger co-workers with love and pride. She was one who truly loved others deeply with God’s love and always had a smile to share, she was a blessing to all who knew her. She is survived by her loving family, her son, Robert Rice and his wife, Cindy, of Sandy Hook, Conn.; her grandchildren and their spouses, Mark and Stephanie Rice, Lori Rice-Spring and her husband, Soren, Wendy and Joseph DeDonato, Elizabeth Rice, Christian Rice, Carie and Richard Turk, and Scott and Tina Coleman; and 11 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her two sisters, Dorothea O’Neil of Calais and Edwina DiCenzo of Alexandria; brother-in-law, Holman Rice and his wife, Frances; sisters-in-law, Ruth Morgrage and Patricia Cox. In addition to her beloved husband, she was predeceased by her son, Howard; and brothers, Alan Cox and Lloyd Cox. A service in her memory will take place 10 a.m. Saturday, March 29, at Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Road, Newtown, Conn., with the Rev. Terry Pfeiffer officiating and the Rev. Robert Thorn of Florida delivering the eulogy. Burial will take place in the late spring at Oak Hill Cemetery, Winterport. There will be no prior visiting hours. Arrangements are in trusted to Dennis & D’Arcy Funeral Home, Stratford, Conn. For online condolences please visit www.dennisanddarcy.com.
MARY ELIZABETH COX RICE
