John Lloyd Rice

John Lloyd Rice was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1948, in Pampa,Texas, to Charles Hoyt Rice and Gloria Colleen McLemore. The Rices later moved to Houston, where John graduated from Sterling High School in 1967. John was an accomplished athlete; he was a fierce running back for The University of Texas-El Paso and the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. He always had his teammates, friends and family’s back, both on and off the field. John served in the United States Army stationed in Giessen, Germany, where he met and married his wife, Tatjana Przybyla. The couple later moved to Houston, where they had their daughter, Michelle Renee Rice. The majority of John’s working career was in sales. His likeable personality made him someone everyone enjoyed being around. He was a devout Catholic and Spiritual person who prayed for others and partnered with various prayer ministries for healing. He was a firm believer in Miracles, often standing on Isaiah 53, “By His stripes we are healed in Jesus’ name!”

John and his daughter shared a love for horses and healing. They, along with his grandchildren, Kaiser & Aliyah Atiqi, founded Faith, Hope & Horses, with the mission to introduce special needs children, and people with ailments, to horses. On Wednesday, November 23, 2016, at the hour of grace, his train arrived for Heaven. We know that the next day what a glorious Thanksgiving feast he had at the table of his Lord & Savior!

John was preceded in death by his grandparents James Earl Rice, Sr., Willie Marie Rice and Beatrice Bergin and parents, Charles Hoyt Rice & Colleen Rice.

He is survived by daughter Michelle Renee Rice and two grandchildren, Aliyah and Kaiser Atiqi, of Katy, TX; stepmother, Kathi Rice of Seattle, who blessed him with a place to rest next to his beloved father, Hoyt Rice, at the Historic Hollywood Cemetery in Houston. Also, step-sister Staci Gossett of Seattle; sister Elizabeth Guthrie and husband Tim of San Antonio; nephews Jay Guthrie and wife Mindy of Houston and John Hoyt Guthrie of San Antonio; niece Carrie Brady and husband Aaron of San Antonio; three great-nephews: Weston Jay and Zachary Charles Guthrie and Hoyt William Brady; a great-niece Laurel Elizabeth Brady; uncles Ronald Rice of Amarillo and Dawrence Rice and wife Joyce of Porterville, CA; cousins Dewayne Maddox and wife Sue of Apple Valley, CA and Frank Maddox of Carney, OK, cousin and caregiver, Jan Thompson-Harnett and husband Kevin of Lago Vista; cousins Karol Rice and husband Vic Gonzalez of Bastrop; Duce Rice, Tim Rice and wife Marilyn; Ronny Rice and wife Tammy, and David Rice and wife Tina, all of California; Ouida Rice of Missouri City; Clay and Beth Rice of Pampa; Frances Hughes of Pampa and Bill Kelly of Ft. Worth; as well as numerous second and third cousins. His loyal best friend & brother of over 60 years, Judd Cribbs and his wife Sheila of Houston; Judd’s sister Olivia Scearce and husband Mike of Marble Falls; Tom Yelvington, of Austin; Tim Calahan and wife Anna of Houston; Robert Semands of Edmond, OK; Linda Hall and Steve Zapalac of Smithville, Gary Thompson of Mineola, and Tammy Dudley-Hill and husband Carl of Pampa, and her children, Mat, Marcus and Gracie, who called him Uncle Johnny, and believed for years that he was an actual family member.

John is remembered fondly as the man who loved his Daughter First! her Dad, “Poppa John”, Uncle Johnny, Big Bad John, John-O and Couzano. He had such a huge heart, a great smile and terrific sense of humor. He loved his family and friends dearly and prayed for them daily. He truly was in the Miracle business the last few years of his life.