William Cecil Rice

William Cecil “ Bill” Rice, 87, Shawnee resident, died Tuesday, June 4, 2013 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. William was born June 3, 1926 in Wagoner County, Oklahoma, to Cecil and Voilet (Williams) Rice. Bill was a longtime former Seminole and  Wewoka area resident who has lived in Shawnee for the past few years. After Bill graduated from Vamoosa High School, he entered the U.S. Navy serving in the South Pacific during World War II where he spent 3 1/2 years and was discharged on November 4, 1947 as a Yoeman 2nd Class.  Bill worked for the Homestake Oil Company as their Oilfield Production Manager. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge at Wewoka, Oklahoma, a member of the First Baptist Church of Bowlegs, Oklahoma and was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Bill loved hunting, fishing, horseback riding, his computer and watching football. Bill married Norma Jean Northcott on September 22, 1946 in Yuma, Arizona. Bill is survived by his wife of 67 years, Norma Jean Rice, of Shawnee, Oklahoma; his two daughters, Linda D. Montgomery and her husband Mike of Ft. Worth, Texas and Cheryl J. Yacone and her husband Frank of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; two grandsons, Michael Montgomery of Dallas, Texas, and Tony Yacone of Baton Rouge, Louisiana,  granddaughter Kristie Kerner of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, three great granddaughters; a brother Marion “ Hoot” Rice and his wife Pauline of Ada, Oklahoma and a sister, Bet Rice Moran of Edmond, Oklahoma, and many nieces and nephews. His parents and a brother, Donald Ray Rice, preceded him in death. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Friday, June 7, 2013 at the Trinity Chapel inside Resthaven Memorial Park in Shawnee, Oklahoma with Rev. Doyle O. Long officiating. The U.S. Navy will provide military honors at the service. Funeral service arrangements are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma.   Funeral Information: June 7, 2013, 2:00 PM Resthaven Memorial Park located at 44904 Hwy 3, Shawnee, OK 74801