Charley James Rice passed away on April 1, 2020 at his home in Kemp. He was born on Friday, July 25, 1930 in Kemp, Oklahoma to Willie and Ivy Rice.
He went to school in Kemp, Okla. and graduated in 1948. He was in training at Sheppard Air Force Base Nov. 1, 1948 – Feb. 1, 1949 and later stationed at Kessler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss. from Feb. 1, 1949 – Oct. 31, 1949, as an Air Craft Rescue. He was in the Air Force Reserved for six years.
In 1953, he married Peggy Joyce (Ricks) Rice (1936-1997) and together they four children, Freddie, Neal, Gail and Melissa. On Febr. 5, 1981 he married Anna (Pittman/Hayes) Rice and accepted two step-children Gene Hayes and Ana-Alicia Hayes Sinor, whom he raised as his own. He was a farmer and rancher all his life.
James was preceded in death by his mother and father, Willie (1905-1997) and Ivy (1912-2009) Rice; grandmother, Toccoa Caraway (1896-1993); sons: Freddie (1954-1955) and Neal Rice (1957-2012); first wife, Peggy (Ricks) Rice and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
James is survived by his wife Lucy (Anna Pittman/Hayes) Rice of the home in Kemp, Okla.; daughters, Gail Gower and husband Keith of Denison, Texas, Melissa Johnston and husband Louis of Kemp, Okla. and Ana Alicia (Hayes) Sinor and husband Chance of Colbert, Okla.; daughter-in-law, Donna Rice of Denton, Texas; son, Gene Hayes and wife Kelly of Denison Texas; grandkids, Isaac Bustamante and Paige Hagood of Oklahoma City, Okla., Michael and Rachel Gower of Texas, Tricia and Marc Anthony Gower of Ohio, Garrett and Logan Mize of Denton Texas, Dylan and Sierra Sinor of Durant, Chanda Sinor, Tyler Sinor, Chase and Tasha Love of Colbert, Okla., Kenley Hayes, Tanner Hayes and Hannah Hayes of Denison Texas, and Charley Johnston of Kemp, Okla.; two great-grand babies on the way; brother, Dale Rice and wife Beverly of Denison Texas; several cousins, nieces, nephews and his sidekick, Duke Bozo Rice (2007-2020)
Funeral services were held at Kemp Baptist Church with Bro. Roger Spears officiating with Beryl Sears, Marty Hutchinson, Jay Dungeon, Shane Covey, Tim Bennett and Chase Love serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers: Charley Badillo, Barry Burges, Wes Dillard, Bobby Dobbins, Corkey Staton, Buck Sinor, Odell Hendrix, John Belcher, and Wright’s Drive-In girls, Schanan Hayes and Cathy Castleberry Mayhue.
Arrangements are under the direction of Brown’s Durant Funeral and Cremation Service.