Elvira Rice

Funeral services for Elvira Pearl (Emry) Rice, 92, Tonganoxie will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, September 15, 2011 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.  Burial will follow at Hubble Hill Cemetery in Tonganoxie, KS.  She died September 11, 2011 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

She was born on November 25, 1918 in Independence, Kansas the second of two daughters to William David and Catherine (Hart) Emry.  

Elvira was a graduate of Independence High School and Independence Community College. Elvira received her bachelors’ degree in teaching from Pittsburg State University. 
She began her teaching career in 1939 in a one room school house, instructing children in grades 1 – 8.  Mrs. Rice taught at many locations around the state of Kansas including Elk City, Morgantown, and various schools in Montgomery County.  She retired from teaching in 1981 after nearly twenty years of teaching fourth grade for the Tonganoxie and Jarbalo school districts.  Her friends and family knew her as a spry, spunky lady full of ideas, and one always knew where she stood on issues. 

She married Frank H. Rice on May 20, 1945 in Coffeyville, Kansas.  He preceded her in death in 2006 at the age of 90. 

Survivors include her twin sons, Bill and Bob Rice, of Tonganoxie, Kansas; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 

The family will receive friends from 6 – 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at the mortuary.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Student Scholarship Fund at Tonganoxie High School and may be sent in care of the mortuary.