Emily Diane Coker Rice

A memorial service is planned for Monday, July 3, at 2 p.m. at the Sunset Northwest Funeral Home in San Antonio. The family will welcome guests at a visitation on Sunday, July 2, from 6-8 p.m., also at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home.

Emily was born to John Bassham Coker and Isabelle Conner Coker on October 17, 1945 in Dallas, Texas, the younger of their two daughters. Emily was raised in University Park where her dad was a master electrician at his own company, Coker Electric Service. His widow Isabelle became the first woman master electrician in Dallas and took over the business, after his passing in 1954.

As a child Emily was eager to help her dad with projects and enjoyed family gatherings. The extended Coker family would have cook-outs and take trips together. Emily attended church every Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening with her family at Preston Road Church of Christ.

Emily graduated from Highland Park High School (Dallas, TX) in 1965. She travelled to Tyler to attend Tyler Junior College, studying Psychology for 2 years.

Emily met John Calvin Rice on a blind date, set up by her roommate while John was in the U.S. Army. The couple married on June 18, 1971 at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas.

Shortly after marrying, John’s work took the couple to Kokomo, Indiana and worked in the insurance department of a steel mill. John and Emily later moved to John’s home state of Illinois, where Emily worked at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as an office manager. Emily did not enjoy the cold weather of Illinois and was overjoyed when she found out they were moving back to her home state of Texas. The couple settled in San Antonio, and Emily worked for the University of Texas at San Antonio as an office manager. The couple later welcomed their daughter Rebecca in 1980. Emily and Rebecca joined Oak Hills Church in the early 1980’s. She enjoyed attending Bible classes and Max Lucado’s preaching as well as his books.

Emily was a doting mother to Rebecca and spent time at home raising her. She cheered Rebecca on at various swim meets and sporting events when Rebecca was on the pom squad. They were the best of friends. Emily felt called to teaching after being a stay at home Mom to Rebecca. She taught a 3 year old class for many years at Kids of the Kingdom Preschool. She also enjoyed teaching Sunday School at Oak Hills Church. Emily was a loving caretaker and found a job that suited her skill set. She spent many hours with her elderly charges as an at-home companion, playing games, watching television, or reading to them, preparing meals, and driving them to appointments. Emily was also a Mary Kay consultant and enjoyed meeting with her various clients to discuss the most up to date beauty products. These clients became her dear friends. Emily loved her Mexican food, and you could often find her and John at their favorite spot, Los Barrios. She also loved the San Antonio Spurs basketball team and Dallas Cowboys, cooking and baking, coffee, celebrating Fiesta, decorating for the holidays, playing cards, dominos, Words with Friends, Scrabble and played anytime there was a family get-together.

Emily is survived by her husband, John Calvin Rice, and by daughter Rebecca D. Rice of Dallas. She is also survived by her sister Johnetta Coker Davis and her husband Joe, nephew J. Charles Davis II (wife Sally) & their children Rylie (fiancé Peter Slowik) and Blake, niece Stephanie Davis Kilgore (husband Ric) and her son Andrew Collins, brother-in-law Thomas L. Rice, niece Janna Rice, and nephew Darren L. Rice (wife Hope) and their children Logan and Alex.

Preceding Emily in death were her father John Bassham Coker, mother Isabelle Conner Coker, and great niece Raegan A. Davis.

Those wishing to honor Emily’s life may make a memorial gift to The American Heart Association or The National Celiac Association. Condolences may be offered to the family online at

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/san-antonio-tx/emily-rice-11345859 .