Bernard C. Rice, Sr., 84, of Sikeston, died Sunday, May 11, 2014, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. Born August 9, 1929, in Memphis, Tenn., to the late Burton C. and Jennie Kindred Rice, he was an attorney and senior partner with the Blanton, Rice, Nickell, Cozean & Collins Law Firm in Sikeston and a member of the Missouri Bar Association. He had served in the U.S. Navy and was a member of VFW Post 3174, Sikeston Elks Lodge 2319, Sikeston Lions Club, Sikeston Jaycees, and served on the board of First National Bank. A member of the First United Methodist Church of Sikeston, he had also served as chairman of the trustee committee. On September 4, 1954, in Sikeston, he married Mary “Genie” Blanton, who survives of the home.
Additional survivors include: two sons and daughters-in-law, Bernard C. “Cliff” Rice, Jr. and Patty Rice of Independence, Mo. and Stephen and Monique Rice of Sikeston; and three grandchildren, Katherine and husband Andrew Newbold of Glendale, Mo., Abigail Rice and Madeleine Rice, both of Sikeston.
The family would like to thank the in-home caregivers of “Mr. B”, as they affectionately called him: Tina Avery, Bethany Drew, Mary Quinn, Carolyn Steck and Tammy Draper.
Visitation will be held from 5-8p.m. on Tuesday, May 13, at the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be conducted in the Nunnelee Chapel at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14, with Rev. Geoff Posegate, pastor of the First United Methodist Church, officiating.
Burial will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Sikeston.
Pallbearers will be Bryan Nickell, John Cozean, Tom Collins, Shaun Hanschen, Patrick Douglas, Mike Bohannon and Andy Newbold.
Online condolences may be shared at: www.nunneleefuneralchapel.com.
Memorial contributions may be made to:
First United Methodist Church
P.O. Box 682
Sikeston, MO 63801,
Crown Hospice
2858 Professional Court
Cape Girardeau, MO 63703
OR
Michael J. Fox Parkinson’s Foundation
Grand Central Station
P.O. Box 4777
New York, NY 10163-4777
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