On October 2, 2023 Marilyn Jean Rice, loving wife, mother and grandmother passed away at age 75 surrounded by her family. Marilyn was born March 10, 1948 in Greenville, OK. She attended school at Greenville thru her junior year. She graduated her senior year as valedictorian from Leon, class of 1966. During her time at Greenville she met her high school sweetheart Michael Ray Rice. They began their 55 year journey together June 24, 1965 raising their 2 children, Michael and Natasha.

Marilyn remembered swimming with many of her brothers and sisters every day of the summer down at Hickory Creek with a bar of Dove soap…why? "because it was the only soap bar that would float!" She also told of picking cotton to make money to help the family. She even told stories of taking an egg to school from the family henhouse to trade for candy at the little shack of a store across from the Greenville school! And of course the job so many of the Peery kids had as they got older… working the Marietta Cookie Factory along with their mother Edna aka Mema. Marilyn did go on later to earn her Bachelors in Home Economics from the University of Oklahoma in 1973.

After college, Marilyn, Mike and the kids traveled overseas because of Mike's job in the oil industry. Marilyn enjoyed traveling and learning about other cultures while they lived in England, Singapore, Borneo and Indonesia. Marilyn especially enjoyed learning to cook and eat exotic foods from the orient, her favorite was a spicy Indian chicken curry dish! She also loved many cats and dogs they had over the years both at home and abroad.

After many years overseas the family returned home. Marilyn earned her Masters in Special Ed. At E.C.U. and became a traveling special ed. teacher across 3 rural counties. Mike and Marilyn bought a home and ranch south of Lone Grove, where they later enjoyed the peace of country living, raising cows, and walking the land. Meanwhile, Marilyn taught Science and Special Ed. at Lone Grove Schools. She also got her license as a realtor working for several years before retiring to help Mike's parents build a new home. In her later years watching the wild birds on the front porch became a favorite pastime.

One of the most precious moments in her life was the birth of her grandson Harlin Michael Peery Rice! She loved watching him grow up, singing in the Lone Grove High School Choir and performing in the High school Marching Band. Marilyn always delighted in listening to grandson Harlin, a multi-talented musician, play the piano, guitar, banjo, trumpet, and multiple other instruments. But she especially loved it when he practiced and played the piano! She was very proud of him continuing his education in the medical field.

Marilyn found her church home alter in life after an invitation from her best friend Dana. There at St. Mary's Catholic Church in in Ardmore she found her spiritual home with husband Mike. Both eventually becoming baptized and coming into full communion with the Catholic Church. They both found much comfort, joy and solace at St. Mary's.

Marilyn was sweet, kind, generous and good hearted. She was preceded in death by her son Michael John Peery Rice; husband Mike Ray Rice; parents Kincheloe and Edna Peery; sister Wanda Parker (Pat), brother Richard Peery (Sue); nephew Greg Parker and brother Kenneth Peery.

She will be deeply missed by those left to cherish her memory including her daughter Natasha and partner, Deborah; grandsons Harlin Rice and Braxton Bivins; brothers, John Peery (Hollene) and Herschel "Bub" Peery (Brenda) and sisters, Kay McGill (Denzil), Patty Hendrix (Al) sister in law Edna Peery (Kenneth) and many extended family members and dear friends.

A visitation for friends and family will be at Craddock Funeral Home on Thursday, Oct. 5th 2023 from 6-7pm. The funeral service will be held 1:00 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6th at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Woodberry Forest Cemetery in Madill, OK.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to the Children's Shelter of Southern Oklahoma, Cross Timbers Hospice (with many thanks for their attention and care) or the Ardmore Animal Shelter.