Michael Lawrence Rice

Michael Lawrence Rice of Northshore, TX, formerly of Baytown, TX, died May 29, 2008, from a severe heart attack. He was born on June 21, 1952, in Houston, TX, to Gerald L. and Elaine S. Rice of Baytown.

Michael was a graduate of St. Joseph Junior School and Robert E. Lee High School (1970) in Baytown, and of Texas A&M University (1975), where he earned a BA in journalism. He earned an MBA degree with international emphasis from the University of Washington (1987) in Seattle, WA.

After beginning work as an administrative assistant at Brown & Root, he held jobs in Midland, TX, in Kansas, and in Burlington, VT, before going to Seattle to continue his education. After earning his MBA, he began working overseas in a variety of contract jobs, as a project scheduler, project planner, and in project engineering, in many countries, including Norway, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Singapore, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Hungary, and China. Among the many companies he worked for were Ortloff Engineers, Bechtel, M.W. Kellogg, Foster Wheeler, and Halliburton. More recently he worked for the Port of Houston and Chicago Bridge and Iron Co. in the Houston area.

While living in Baytown, he participated in many activities, among them Boy Scouts, Little League baseball and especially swimming. A founding member of the Lakewood Swim Team, he later served as coach both of that team and the Baytown Swim Team, which he founded and served as volunteer coach. He was also on the Robert E. Lee swim team. In addition he had a Baytown Sun paper route in Lakewood for five years.

At Texas A&M, he edited The Battalion newspaper for a year and a half after serving as a reporter and sports photographer.

He was a member of St. Joseph Church and served as an altar boy there in his early years.

Michael loved working outdoors. He successfully designed a squirrel-proof bird feeder, and spent many hours observing the birds, squirrels, and lizards at his home to take his mind off the stress of studying the stock and economic markets, which was one of his passions.

He was predeceased by his grandparents, William J. and Nora Rice of Malone, NY, and Henry C. and Elvina ""Belle"" Schroeder of Ocean Springs, MS; by his uncles, Don Rice of Malone, NY and Henry C. Schroeder, Jr. of New Orleans, LA; and by his aunts, Dolores S. McJilton of Great Falls, VA, and Gloria S. Fitzgerald of Everett, WA.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by his brother, David K. Rice, of Dayton, TX, and his sisters, Anne C. Rice of Houston, TX, and Elizabeth Rice Davis of Lafitte, Louisiana.

He is also survived by Carol S. Rice, wife of David Rice, and her sons, Chris Smith and Kenny Smith; three aunts, Ann Rice Pearce of Nassau, NY, Iris H. Schroeder of Baytown, TX, and Hyacinth C. Sauer of Conover, NC; six nieces & nephews, Rachel A. Davis of Houston, Cara E. Davis of Boulder, CO, Dean M. Davis of Houston, and Art B. Davis of Hammond, LA, Eva Pearce Gilmore of Nassau, NY, and Billy Pearce of Syracuse, NY; and numerous cousins, including Frank Cushman, Jr., of Taylorville, NC; Carol Talbot of New Orleans, LA, Stephen Cushman of Gonzales, LA; Rick Fitzgerald and Lynn Haslett of Everett, WA; Barbara Fitzgerald, Susan Mire, and Kim Hernandez, all of San Antonio, TX; Mark Fitzgerald of Oregon; Tim McJilton of Glenview, IL; Kurt McJilton of Reston, VA; Bruce McJilton of New Orleans, LA; Arn McJilton of Owassa, OK; Eric McJilton of Waggaman, LA; Renee Owens of Carrollton, TX; Jan Sliwa of Austin, TX; and Sandy S. Baker of Longview, TX.

Visitation will be held at Navarre Funeral Home on Sunday, June 1, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm with a Rosary at 6:00 pm with Deacon Justin Wewer in charge. A funeral mass will take place at 10:00 am Monday, June 2, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Baytown, with the Reverend Dwight Canizares officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Navarre Funeral Home, 2444 Rollingbrook, Baytown, Texas, 281-422-8111.