Leon F. Rice

Leon F. Rice, born October 26, 1926 in Blackjoe, Kentucky, of Morristown, passed to eternal life with our Heavenly Father on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 in South Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Rice lived with their daughter and son-in-law, Brenda and Walter Thorn, in Daniel Island, SC for the past 1 ½ years, where he had been under specialty care at the Medical University of South Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Rice owned and operated Leon’s Grill & Café in Morristown for several years. He was a member of Cherokee Hills Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon, Treasurer, and choir member. Mr. Rice served in the US Army during World War II and was a member of VFW Post 5266 and the Morristown Masonic Lodge # 767. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Asher Rice and Nelle Morgan Rice; and sisters, Jane Rice and Mert Cornett.

Survivors include his wife, Rosella Lawson Rice; son, Charles (Brenda) Rice of Wilmington, NC; daughter, Brenda (Walter) Thorn of Daniel Island, SC; grandchildren, Mark (Jennifer) Thorn of Summerville, SC, Matthew (Ashley) Rice of Topeka, KS, Jessica (Justin) Dupree of Wilmington, NC; great-grandchildren, Haley, Lawson and Aiden Thorn and Paisley Rice; brother, John (Betty) Rice of Middlesboro, KY; sister, Vicki (Billy) Dye of Pineville, KY; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at Stubblefield Funeral Home on Saturday, September 15, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. with Judge James E. Beckner officiating, with readings by Matthew Rice and Justin Dupree. Music will be provided by William Thorn, Eddie and Carolyn Beckner, Rhonda Blair, Roger Turnmire and Valerie Johns. Interment will follow in Hamblen Memory Gardens, where military honors will be accorded. Pallbearers will be Mark Thorn, Matthew Rice, Justin Dupree, Darryl Campbell, Jeffrey Campbell, Lt. Colonel Fernando Martinez, and Lawson Thorn. Honorary pallbearers will be John Rice, Jack Cornett, Harry Lawson, Curt Farley, Billy Dye, Leonard Campbell, Homer Bowlin and Gary Roberts. The family will receive friends on Saturday 2 – 3:00 p.m. prior to the services at the funeral home.

Stubblefield Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.