Roy Hiram Rice

Roy H. Rice 1929-2017 Roy Rice, 88, of Columbia, MO passed away Sunday, May 14, 2017 at his home in Columbia. Roy was born January 4, 1929 in Beard, Illinois to Hiram and Nellie Mutzbauer Rice. He grew up in Carlinville, IL, served in the US Navy during WWII and married Jacqueline Hargis of Gillespie, IL. A sailor at 17, husband at 19, and father at age 20, he wasted no time in beginning a long and prosperous career that led him to Columbia, MO in 1969 where he spent 30 years as the Mass Spectrometrist for the University of Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station Chemical Laboratories. This afforded Roy the opportunity to participate in a variety of interesting research projects including the study of some of the first moon rock samples. Roy was a very dedicated man with strong convictions who enjoyed driving convertibles. (Remember his red Saab?) He was also a student of history and visited many historic sites during his extensive travels across the U.S. and Europe. Roy loved his family dearly.

He is survived by his children, John (Kathleen) Rice of Chillicothe, MO, Mark (Karen) Rice of Jefferson City, MO, and Kathy Turner of Columbia; grandchildren, Zachary (Erika), Hannah, Jonathan, Mary Grace, Jeffry (Emily), and Timothy Rice; and a great grandson, August Rice; as well as his dear companion for the past eight years, Mary Lou Murrow.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Jacqueline, and five siblings, Harry and Frank Rice, Bessie Bloomfield, Jessie Kritner, and Marie Glover. Private graveside services will be held in Memorial Park Cemetery, Columbia, MO. In remembrance of Roy, the family asks that the next time you sit together for dinner, please raise a glass in his honor and share a story or two. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.memorialfuneralhomeandcemetery.com