Levina "Sally" Rice

The lifelong Missouri resident was born in Deepwater on June 8, 1932, to Earl Jackson Martin and Ruth Martin during the middle of the Great Depression. The baby of the family, she was named Levina after her paternal grandmother - yet it was her father who first called her Sally. The nickname stuck.

After growing up in rural Missouri, Sally left home at the age of 16 for Kansas City, where she spent most of her adult life. It was there that she met William Samuel Rice, the handsome, sharply dressed manager who hired her as a curb hop at Nu-Way restaurant at Linwood and Main Streets. They went on to marry in 1949 and have six daughters together, all whom shared names beginning with the letter, "S." Later the husband and wife team ran a fish and chips shop, aptly named "Sam and Sally's," from 1972 to 1984. The daughters waited tables, Sam made the sandwiches, and Sally managed the books. It was a true family business, and Sally liked that.

Always a hard worker, Sally held full-time jobs in addition to raising her daughters. For 18 years she worked at the federal government, moving up from a keypunch operator in 1962 to secretary for the Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 1975 to 1980. She was recognized for her contributions to federal, state and county meetings. At the same time, she helped run the family restaurant and manage the rental properties in midtown Kansas City that she and her husband owned.

Over the years, Sally's home was the gathering place for her children and grandchildren, first in Kansas City and later in Martin City. She would open it up to celebrate birthdays and holidays as often as once a month, greeting all who entered with a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and a "Hi, Honey." When anyone needed a place to stay or some extra help with their kids, Sally offered it. That's how she was. She talked to her daughters regularly, and worried about them just as often. In her spare time, she enjoyed family road trips to Las Vegas and Disneyland, getting dolled up, cheering for the Chiefs, and beating her grandchildren at video games.

Sally's love of family inspired her to research her heritage and document it for future generations. She was an active member of the History of the Hieronymus Family in America group, serving as the book committee's chair in 1985 and president in 1997.

A social person who was drawn to service, Sally was an active member of her community. She served as mayor pro tem of the Silver Haired City Council of KCMO from 1990 to 2010. She actively campaigned for a friend running for state representative, and was on the Republican Presidential Task Force in 2000. Over the years she volunteered at Sunday School, PTA and for the Girl Scouts.

It was Sally's childhood that instilled in her a love for family and a strong work ethic. By age five, she was helping in the fields on her family’s 100-acre farm outside Lowry City. When Sally was nine, her father was killed in a car accident - and she later lost her brother, J.P. Martin, the same way. A natural storyteller who easily recalled details of her early life, she spoke of her brothers, sister and parents with great affection. The siblings played cards and checkers together. She canned blue plums with her mom. And her dad would make her day with just a couple cents, which she would use to buy a candy ring at the dime story (once she was even able to buy two).

A bright student, Sally excelled in school in her teenage years, won letters for playing basketball, and graduated valedictorian of her Lowry High School class at the age of 16. Years later she continued her education at Penn Valley Community College.

Sally’s family and friends were so lucky to have her for the time they did. She will be deeply missed.

Sally was the loving wife of the late William Samuel Rice, married in 1949 in Bentonville Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Sheila Rice; brothers, Pete Martin, J.P. Martin, and Arleigh Martin; and sister, Imogene Swezy. Levina is survived by her daughters, Sandie Wiebe (Howard), Sonja Clark (Mike), Shelly Stock (Daniel), Sherry Underwood (Tim), and Stacy Cabrera (Larry); grandchildren, Justin Buccheri, Joshua Buccheri, Samantha Clark, Adam Clark, Christopher Stock, Erin Stock, Benjamin Stock, Sheila Hyvari, Arthur D’Achiardi, Peter Cabrera, and Lauren Cabrera; and great-grandchildren, Sunny Hyvari, Zander Hyvari, Kayla Buccheri, Ciel Stock, Miller Stock, Beckham Clark, and Vincent D’Achiardi.

Friends and family are welcome to attend the visitation and funeral service on Tuesday, July 3. The visitation will be held from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., and the funeral service from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. The graveside service will follow from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. The funeral home will be McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, (816) 942-6180.