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RICE -- Edna Lavinia Scott Rice. Edna Rice passed away on December 2, 2003. She was a bold and vibrant spirit and her presence will be missed by all those who knew and loved her. She is predeceased by her husband, Charlie Rice and her grandson, Bret Leslie Lansdale. She is survived by her daughter, Sunny Lansdale and her partner, Judy Key and her step-grandchildren, Tammie, Tara, Tasha, Tessa, and Kyle. She is also survived by her grandson, Scott Lansdale and his wife, Suzanne and her three great-grandchildren, Mason, Clay, and Molly all of Fayetteville, AR; and her step-son and his wife, Joe and Elaine Rice of Albuquerque. Of twelve siblings, she is survived by Jack Scott of Tyler, TX and Morene Bowen of Austin, TX. Numerous nieces and nephews and their families have also regarded Edna as a loved one and a mother figure. Edna was born May 20, 1909 on a farm outside Lorena, TX. Her mother gave birth alone in a dark storm cellar during a violent Texas storm. Her father had gone to get the doctor in a horse and buggy and could not get back because of swollen streams too deep to cross. This dramatic beginning foretold an uncommon and equally dramatic life to come. She was the eldest daughter in a family of twelve, a role of responsibility and love toward her siblings which lasted throughout her life. A true pioneer woman, she helped her family break ground and homestead a cotton farm on the he plains of Texas when there weren't any paved roads or electricity to assist in the process. She plowed the land behind a mule, picked cotton, shelled peas and laughed and loved her big family where she was referred to as Sis. She was also a flapper, insisted upon wearing high heels to school, loved to dance and play basketball. She was a whiz at math and decided to attend Texas Tech University to earn a teaching certificate. However, her teaching career was short lived, in part because when she played basketball with her students, the lace on her knee high bloomers would show. She did not respond to the reprimand well. After a whirlwind romance, Edna married Charlie Rice in the heart of the depression. Money was scarce and Charlie was responsible for his parents and two children. Edna and Charlie supported all of them by giving hair permanents town to town throughout Texas. Even though those were hard times, Edna always recounted those days with excitement and joy. Charlie was truly the love of her life and every day was an adventure. Out of those meager beginnings, Charlie proved to be a self made man. He was an inventor, investor, entrepreneur, and speculator. He would create a vision, but it was Edna who made it work. They were an incredible team. Their adventures included cattle and sheep ranching, meatpacking, pinto bean and cotton farming, army surplus, developing real estate properties, hotel and motel development and the list goes on. When Charlie died unexpectedly in 1956, Edna managed on her own, never to remarry. She said no one could replace Charlie. In addition to managing a cumbersome estate, she raised a daughter, traveled the world, and became a keen investor in the stock market. As the years wore on, she loved to tell stories of her misadventures. She loved people and never met a stranger. The most predominant feature of her life was her fierce will and determination. She refused to use the expression "I'll try," but insisted upon the alternative "I will." Her loving heart, her strength, and her spirit will be sorely missed.
        Published on: Thu July 22, 2004