Mrs. Ruby Mae (Smith) Rice, age 72, departed her earthly journey into Glory on Wednesday, September 9, 2020, in Olathe, Kansas.  She was born February 2, 1948, in Shreveport, Louisiana to the late Lorenza Smith and was raised with her stepfather, the late Rev. Bennie Smith.

She was the second born of ten siblings.  She was preceded in death by her sons Timothy William Rice and Gerald LaVaughn Rice; her parents Bennie and Lorenza Smith; her brothers Michael Smith and Jerome Smith; and her sisters Carro Smith and Dallas Smith.

Ruby accepted Christ as her Lord and Saviour at an early age.  She was a very devoted member of Palestine Missionary Baptist Church of Jesus Christ for nearly forty years and served in numerous capacities including her most treasured role as Director of Children's Worship.  She went on to become a member of Concord Baptist Church and in recent years her husband regularly drove her to attend St. James United Methodist Church.

After one year of courtship Ruby Mae Smith married Odell Rice, Jr. on November 5, 1967.  To this union they were blessed with five beautiful children; Dell Lamont, LaVenia Dashon, Timothy William, Felicia Danielle and Gerald LaVaughn.  They have eight grandchildren together.  Ruby was a devoted wife and mother who was, for years, able to be a stay-at-home mom.  She used that time to volunteer as a room mother at her children's elementary school and was an active member of the PTA, school board and local government.  She was careful to keep her children active in all sorts of extra-curricular activities from Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts to band and various sports and arts.  Ruby was a rock for her husband and children and had a love for family and spending quality time with them.  During the final months of her life as she battled with illness her husband was her devoted rock until the very end.  They were very committed to one another.  One of Ruby's favorite pastimes was visiting with her family members in Kansas City, Kansas.

She was extremely close to her brothers and sisters and all her nieces and nephews.  She was known for her loving generosity during the special moments and accomplishments in their lives.  She always kept close ties with her loved ones in Shreveport, Louisiana as well.

Ruby was educated in Kansas City, Kansas and graduated from Sumner High School Class of 1966.  Upon graduating she began working for the Internal Revenue Service and then transferred to General Services Administration where she built an impressive and successful career earning numerous awards.  She ascended the ranks at GSA to become a Small Business Adviser which regularly took her on travel all throughout the United States. She retired in 2015.

She leaves to forever cherish her life with delightful memories, much love and celebration: her children, Dell Lamont Rice of Atlanta, GA, LaVenia Dashon Rice of Washington, DC and Felicia Danielle Rice of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren Antonio Higgins, Devante Rice, Dell M. Rice, Gabriel Hayes, Jasmine Rice, Daishana Rice, Gerald Rice, Jr., Tanesha Rice; sisters Sally Greer of Olathe, KS, Betty Smith of Kansas City, MO; brothers Bennie R. Smith, Jr of Kansas City, MO., Kenneth Smith of Kansas City, MO, and Carl Smith, Sr. of Overland Park, KS.

Services for Mrs. Rice will be held 12:00 P.M. Saturday, September 19, 2020, at E. S. Eley & Sons Funeral Chapel.  Burial XII Gates Memorial Gardens.  Friends may call from 10:00 A.M. until service time Saturday at the chapel.

Thoughtful care and services provided by E. S. ELEY & SONS FUNERAL CHAPEL.