LaDonna "Kay" Katherine Rice

Kay was born October 31, 1938 in Lincoln, Illinois and was the only child of Sherman R. and Ruth J. (Graves) Goff. The family moved to Peoria Heights, Illinois when she was just a baby. Donna Kay, as grandma, grandpa and most relatives always called her, was educated at St Thomas Grade School in the Heights and went on to the Academy of Our Lady in Peoria, graduating in 1956.

Kay married in December of 1956. She later married Larry W. Rice on May 29, 1969 in Peoria. Larry was a farm boy from Iowa, transplanted to Illinois who married her and her four grateful and blessed children. She always described Larry as the love of her life and he was.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Larry Rice in April of 2005, great-granddaughter Evie Shipp in April of 2023 and son-in-law Ron Shipp in August 2023.

Surviving are her six children - Kim Shipp of Peoria, Kathy (Mike) Harmon of Elmwood, IL, Phil (Bud with Susan) Koeppel of East Peoria, Kelley (Tim) Lane of Peoria, Tony Rice of Roanoke, IL, and Todd (Stephanie) Rice of Germantown Hills, IL. In addition she has 18 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

Kay worked a few different jobs over the years. She started out at Caterpillar after high school then turned into a stay-at-home mom to raise four children. Several years later she went back to work in the offices at Bergner’s and then moved on to office work at Klaus Radio in Pioneer Park. She then worked at Baymiller, Christison and Radley for several years before eventually landing at American Bottling in Edwards, Illinois just a stone’s throw from her home. She decided to hang it all up and retired in January of 2002. Mom loved all of her jobs and made lifelong friends at each and every one of them.

Yearly family vacations were something she always looked forward in Lake of the Ozarks. She loved family get togethers especially seeing and playing cards with Uncle Roger and Aunt Sharon whenever possible. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren whenever there was opportunity. One of her biggest passions her entire life were the Chicago Cubs and 2016 couldn’t come fast enough for her! Of course we wouldn’t be doing her justice if we didn’t mention that she was probably the Queen of scrapbooking! We have binders and binders of evidence to prove she earned that title. They hold memories we most likely would have never recalled without them. Mom we love you! Your uniqueness, your personality and above all else, your love, will be forever missed.

The family wishes to thank Transitions Hospice Care for all of the attention and care they provided to Mom during her most difficult days.

Services will be held at Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel in Peoria, Illinois on Saturday April 12, 2025 at 12 pm with Monsignor Jason Gray from St. Thomas Parish in Peoria Heights officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10a-12p. A private family service at Swan Lake Memory Gardens will take place at a later date.

Memorials may be given to The Jim and Trudy Maloof St. Jude Midwest Affiliate Clinic at https://www.stjude.org/give.html