Willie "Billy" departed this life early Monday, February 6, 2023 at Saint Francis Hospital at the age of 86 years. He leaves behind his loving wife, Wanda Rice of the home; their daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Glenn Bradshaw; grandchildren, Avery Blackwell and wife, Cybil, Meagen Spillers and fiancé Wayne Coldwell, Lynly Epps and husband, Shawn; great-grandchildren, Aliza Blackwell, Cailey Blackwell, Harper Blackwell, Arden Gray, Rustyn Duncan, Ryder Duncan and Layton Epps; brothers Robert Rice, Donald Rice, Johnny Rice, Jerry Rice, Charles Rice and Ronnie Rice; sisters Mary Korne and Margaret Cantrell; numerous other family, nieces and nephews and friends.

Willie ministered to so many through the years. He was dedicated to providing comfort and hope to those who grieve. Representative of Willie's love and care for his family, he wrote his own obituary shown here.

Willie Fred Rice Obituary

I was born October 3, 1936 to John and Bertha Margaret "Maggie" Rice at Jackson Creek, now Jackson Bay, about 3 ½ miles SE of Wagoner. My grandparents, Fred and Rosa Rice, bought a small farm south of Wagoner when I was young, and Daddy moved us into their home. We lived there for a while before moving 1 ¾ miles south. I walked to the Brick School 2 ¾ miles, and later we moved to the Edward farm 1 mile east of the Brick School. Okay took in the Brick School District, and I finished 12 ^th grade there in 1954.

While attending high school I helped the Jones' farm west of the Brick School. Neither had a crop failure.

After 1954 I went to work at the Fort Gibson Wildlife Refuge, later called Fort Gibson Water Fowl Refuge. I did farming also on the refuge. Vernon Yates and I were the only ones there. He moved to the Fort Gibson Ranger Corp. and I became the manager of the refuge.

In 1959 the Army drafted me. I spent basic training in Fort Carson, Colorado and the second training at Fort Riley, Kansas. Later that year I went to Korea for 2 years.

When I returned I opened an auto repair at the Log Cabin site. In 1962 I married Wanda. We had one daughter, Laura in 1964.

I've been a member of Immanuel Baptist Church since 1954. I preached at Timothy Baptist in Muskogee for five years. I preached at two times at Immanuel while waiting on new pastors, one whole year and ½ at another time.

In 1962 I became a Rural Mail Carrier and finished with 33 years in 1995. After retiring from the Postal Service, I built a house and remodeled many homes in Wagoner.

I lost one sister, Lola and brother, Joe, out of 11 in my family. Good family.

I have enjoyed my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I love them all. My wife, Wanda has been a wonderful wife to put up with me for 59 years.

May God bless all.

Willie Rice

His funeral service will be at 2 PM Thursday, at Immanuel Southern Baptist Church, 611 North Gertrude Ave., Wagoner, OK  74467. Officiating will be the Reverend Rick Boyne, Chaplain Bill Crow and Pastor Dean Hailey.

Interment will be in Pioneer Cemetery in Wagoner, OK. Pallbearers will be Glenn Bradshaw, Avery Blackwell, Shawn Epps, Wayne Coldwell, Riley Jones and Austin Jones. Honorary Billy's brothers, Robert Rice, Donald Rice, Johnny Rice, Jerry Rice, Charles Rice and Ronnie Rice.

Friends and family will gather Wednesday evening for a visitation from 5-7 PM at Mallett Funeral Home.

Drop by viewing is Wednesday from 11 AM-7 PM.