Mildred McDonald Rice

Mildred McDonald Rice, was born to Edna and Leonard Floyd McDonald on August 3, 1919, in Montgomery Co., Texas, and passed from this life on January 28th, 2007, at the age of 87 in Baytown, Texas, to be with her Lord. Most of her life was spent in Cedar Bayou where she completed high school.

Mildred was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Bill Rice; her son, John; and four brothers, Chesley, Orville , J. T. , and Bob McDonald.

Mildred is survived by her only sister, Violet Irwin of Everman; her three daughters, Janelle Hood of Carrollton, Bethul Williams and her husband, Doug, of Mont Belvieu, Julia Barnard and her husband, Bruce, of Universal City as well as 8 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends. Mildred and Bill were charter members of Cedar Bayou Church of Christ and attended for over 50 years. She utilized her creative talents in teaching Bible classes for many of those years. After Mildred’s children were older, she began working outside the home, first with J.C. Penney in Baytown and then as an award-winning salesperson for World Book-ChildCraft International.

Mildred was an excellent seamstress, sewing clothes for her children and grandchildren where she expressed the same flair, class and attention to detail the she exemplified in her own appearance. She was also a wonderful cook especially during holiday seasons. She was probably best known for her delicious pecan pies made from scratch using pecans from her own trees, gathered and shelled by her husband, Bill. In Mildred’s later years she developed a real interest in gardening at her home on Mabry, most likely as a result of enjoying the beautiful plants and flowers grown and cared for by her daughter, Bethul, at her home in Mont Belvieu. Mildred’s enjoyment of life as well as her giving and loving spirit will be missed by all who knew her. Mildred’s last few years of struggling with dementia and Alzheimer’s has come to an end and she is now re-united with her husband and her son along with other believers who have gone on before her to the presence of God the father through her faith and acceptance of Jesus Christ as her Savior. Mildred and Bill Rice have left the current three generations of descendents and, God willing, many more to come with a most valued heritage of Christ-like integrity and character for which they will be eternally thankful.

Pallbearers will be Stanton and Thayne Williams, Greg Rice, Scott Barnard, grandsons; Mason and Garrison Williams, great-grandsons.

Mildred’s funeral will be at 2:00 pm on Wed. Jan. 31, 2007, at Navarre Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook, Baytown, Texas, with visitation to be held from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm before the service begins. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Impact Houston Church by visiting their web site at www.impacthouston.org

Arrangements are under the direction of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX, 77521, (281) 422-8111.