John Washington Rice Jr.

Rice, John Washington, Jr., went to be with the Lord on September 23, 2015 at his home in Rocky Hill after a 4 year battle with Heart Disease. He passed peacefully surrounded by his loving family and friends. “Johnny”, as he was lovingly called by his wife of 58 years, grew up in Knoxville in Marble City. He grew up camping at Elkmont with his brother Jimmy, fishing and hiking the Great Smoky Mountains. He was a gifted athlete, playing football baseball and basketball at Bearden High School in the early fifties. After graduation, he joined the Air Force, serving for 22 years and completing one tour of duty in the Korean Conflict and one tour of duty in the Vietnam War. While serving in the Air Force, he was stationed in Newfoundland, Canada, where he met and married the love of his life, Theresa Cluett. After being honorably discharged with the rank of Technical Sergeant, they came back to Knoxville to raise their family. Upon retirement from the Air Force, Dad worked as director of purchasing at the University of Tennessee for 22 years. Dad was a man of strong faith and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He worked hard and sacrificed all his life to build a good life for his family. He adored his family and was always willing to do anything he could for them. He loved God, his family, and his country, Tennessee-both the state and the Volunteers, the Lady Vols, and Golf. He was a gifted golfer, playing regularly at Deane Hill, Willow Creek and Green Meadows. In his later years, he was a member of the Senior Tour winning many tournaments, including several in Myrtle Beach. Dad was a man who could talk about anything and tell you something about everything. He was a wonderful and loving husband, father and friend. While our hearts are broken at his passing, and we will forever feel the void he has left behind, we are so very blessed to be his family, and so very thankful for his long, happy, blessed life. John was preceded in death by his father, John W. Rice, Sr., his mother Mary Perry Rice and his brother James Edward Rice. He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 58 years Theresa Cluett Rice, his son John David Rice, his daughter Mary Elaine Rice and partner Cristi (always “Kiddo” to John) Moser, and his special canine companion of 11 years, who he affectionately christened “Skipper”. The family would like to thank all the wonderful staff of Avalon Hospice, especially Betty, Mary, Kathy, Kim, and Jennifer for all their loving care of Dad during the last 9 months, as well as caretakers Buffy, Kailee, and Rhonda and special longtime family friend Audrey Hughes. The collective care from everyone allowed Dad to stay in his home with us and for that, we are forever grateful. Special thanks to Father Joe Reed for visiting Dad in his final days. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Dad’s memory to Sacred Heart Catholic Church. The family will receive friends on Friday September 25 from 5-7 PM at Berry Highland Memorial Funeral Home, with a Rosary service to commence at 6:00 PM. Family and friends will meet at 11:00 AM on Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church for the Funeral Mass, interment will follow in Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery.