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Funeral Services for Betty Jo Rice, 95 of Heavener, Oklahoma will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, June 26 at Grace Manor Funeral Home with internment following at Memorial Park Cemetery in Heavener, Oklahoma. Viewing will be Wednesday from 12-7 where the family will greet friends from 5-7. Pallbearers will be Latch Smith, Kaden Simpson, Matthew Jenkins, Jaxon Kilgore, Bradon Cole, and Wesley Jaeger. Honorary Pallbearers will be Casey Smith, Justin Bray, Chris McKibbon, Jason Carshall, and James Jenkins.

Betty was born in St. Louis, Oklahoma on December 31, 1929 to John and Elli Shepherd and passed away on June 22, 2024 at Pocola Health and Rehab, Pocola Oklahoma.

During her teen years, Betty worked as a cosmetologist and later trained with Southwestern Bell Telephone in Pecos, Texas where she became a telephone operator.

Betty (Shepherd) Rice married Charles Wesley Rice on November 17, 1949. The early years of her life were spent as a housewife. She was also employed as a telephone operator with Southwestern Bell and later with ALLTEL Telephone Company in Poteau, Oklahoma where she retired after 14 years. She spent the remainder of her life at home where she enjoyed family and grandkids. She also spent her time doing creative art, scrapbooking, cooking, gardening and fishing. She loved to read and learn and was very knowledgeable in World History. She was of Baptist faith and loved to proclaim the goodness of God to everyone. She was a sharing person, and always sent something home with anyone who came to visit. She never rested until she knew her visitors were safely home.

Betty is proceeded in death by her parents John and Elli Shepherd of Mena Arkansas, her husband of 42 years, Charles Rice Jr.; sisters, Ruth Dulock of Poteau, Nyla Shepherd of Poteau, Jean Brantley of Alamogordo, New Mexico, and John Shepherd Jr. of Mena Arkansas.

Survivors include her daughter Nadalyn Jaeger and husband Lloyd of Poteau Oklahoma, and son Hugh Rice and wife Pam of Stigler, Oklahoma. Grandchildren Janel Lovitt and husband Heath of Owasso, Oklahoma, Wesley Jaeger and wife Megan of Warrensburg, Missouri, Charlie Simpson and companion Jason of Stigler, Oklahoma, Erin Bray and husband Justin of Kinta Oklahoma, Samitra Smith and husband Casey of Stigler, Oklahoma, and Bobbie McKibbon and husband Chris of Poteau, Oklahoma.

20 Great Grandchildren, Lane Lovitt, Katie Lovitt, Sophie Lovitt, Ruby Jaeger, Preston Jaeger, Kaley Smith, Kaden Simpson, Kaveri Simpson, James Jenkins, Noni Sloan, Matthew Jenkins, Cheyenne Jenkins, Emma Bray, Gracie Bray, Latch Smith, Kaselyn Smith, Chanson Smith, Chloe McKibbon, Jaxon Kilgore, and Christa Mckibbon and 5 Great – Great Grandchildren Maverick, Murphy, Kenzie, Waylon, and Hadley. Numerous other relatives and loved ones.

Revelation 21:4

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

You may leave an online message at www.gracemanorfh.com.

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