Cora Mae Rice

Cora Mae Rice, 90, of Fort Smith passed away on Friday, January 21, 2011 in Fort Smith. She was born April 15, 1920 in Armada, AR to Oskar Sine and Hattie Wieberg Sine. She moved to Fort Smith where she graduated from Fort Smith High School in 1938 and attended Westark Community College. She was united in marriage to Leo B. Rice on September 5, 1942 in Brownwood, TX. Cora Mae was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church where she served as Church Auditor, Teller, and Secretary. She retired from J.C. Penny after 42 years of service as Credit Manager. She was a member of Sigma Epsilon Alpha Sorority, Alpha Alpha Chapter. She was a member of Credit Women International, the Rainbow Girls and the Eastern Star. She enjoyed painting, bird watching, and trips to watch the ponies at Oaklawn.

She is survived by one son, Barron S. Rice and his wife Robin of Springfield, MO; two grandchildren, Corbin and Alexa Rice, and numerous nieces and nephews, both great and great great nieces and nephews and countless lifetime friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Leo B. Rice; her parents, Oskar Sine and Hattie Wieberg Sine Redding; sisters, Jody Boy Redding and Burrell Lavell Slater; and brother, Ellic Sine.

Funeral service will be Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 1:00 PM in the Calvary Baptist Church of Fort Smith with burial to follow in Forest Park Cemetery all under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Barron Rice, Bill Slater, Mike Slater, Ronald Sine, Zander Sine, and Timothy Sine.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Brad Sine, Greg Jones, Lance Orendorff, Glen Hopkins, Jr., Doyle Hopkins, James Williams, David Williams, John Hendricks, Allyon Dowaubauer, Wayne Smith, Euing Wieburg, Fred David, and Kline Robinson.

The family will greet friends at Edwards Funeral Home on Monday evening from 5-7 PM.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital 539 Lane Avenue Memphis, TN 38105 or Calvary Baptist Church 2301 Midland Fort Smith, AR 72904

To sign an online guestbook visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com