Ricky Rice
1958-2025
After an extended illness, Rick Rice, 66, of Grayson, KY went home to be with his Lord on Friday, April 4th, 2025 while surrounded by his family.
Born on August 9th, 1958 in Boyd County, Kentucky to Bill and Draxie Rice, Rick made many memories during his lifetime that he still enjoyed reminiscing about and kept his family laughing. Determined and stubborn, loving and hilarious, adventurous and tough… there aren’t enough words to describe him. He loved working as a truck driver, fishing, sitting on his porch drinking coffee in warm weather, standing at his sink looking out the window on cold days, Sunday family dinners with his family, mowing his grass, watching his grandbabies grow up playing in the yard, “just going on drives” with Ellen (that always ended up being overnight or weekend trips full of funny mishaps), sitting on the couch rubbing Ellen’s foot while she scratched his back, and watching on repeat every good old western television show and movie known to man but they never got old to him.
At 15 years old, he finally met in person the 16 year old girl he’d been talking to on the phone for six months (who literally fell for him – one of their funny stories we enjoy) and she turned out to be the absolute love of his life. Ellen spent the next 51 years at his side, being his devoted around-the-clock caretaker to the very end, and she will love him with every ounce of her being for the rest of her life.
All because two people fell in love, Rick leaves behind a large family who will miss him more than they could ever express. Daddy’s girls: Kim Rucker, Crystal Seagraves, Misty Sparks, and Shawna Haywood. His sons-in-law who he claimed as his very own: Eddie Rucker, Tony Seagraves, and Chad Sparks. His grandchildren who were his absolute pride and joy: Brett (Kimmy) Seagraves, Madison (Drew) Porter, Brayden Seagraves, Rylin Sparks, Harli Sparks, Paityn Sparks, Kiana Seagraves, Laura (Chris) Stamper, Jaron (Anna) Rucker, and Shawna Seagraves. His great-grandchildren who he enjoyed getting to spend time with and watch grow: Aspyn and Harlan Seagraves & Huntley and Sybil Rucker.
Proceeded in death by his parents, Rick leaves behind his wife, Ellen Rice, daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, brothers Keith and Mikey Rice (and their families), a very large extended family of nieces and nephews – including special niece Jennifer Harp, and his dog Tucson who was his shadow that followed him everywhere and loved sleeping on his lap in the recliner.
We are so lucky to have had the greatest husband, daddy, father-in-law, and papaw/dedaw in the whole entire world. Our lives will never be the same, but we will follow in his footsteps with reminiscing and sharing stories while cherishing the pictures and videos we have of him.
We, as a family, want to give a special thanks to four of his doctors who he trusted with his life and always bragged on: cardiologist Sriharsha Velury, oncologist Chad Tarabolous, & physicians Katie Salyers and Abby Beck. With hearts of gold, their utmost attention to his care blessed us with getting to spend more years with him and we could never recommend their services enough to others.
A celebration of life service will be 1 pm Saturday, April 12, 2025 at the Malone Funeral Home in Grayson with Bro. James McCown and Bro. Ron Johnson officiating. Visitation will be 11 am Saturday until the service hour. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.malonefuneralhome.com