James Farrell Rice

James Farrell Rice, 68, of Palestine, TX, went home to be with Jesus on February 7, 2024. Although he is no longer with us here on earth, we find comfort in knowing he is in the arms of our Lord and Savior.

James grew up in Locust Grove, Oklahoma, where he loved his family, basketball, and all things rodeo. He met and then married his wife, LaDonna, on April 20, 1984. James and LaDonna moved their family to Houston, Texas where he worked on staff at Lakewood Church for John and Dodie Osteen for the next five years. James and LaDonna then moved their family to Lake Jackson, TX where he worked for the City of Lake Jackson and was on staff at Family Life Church for Pastors Craig and Sandy Taylor. He lived in Lake Jackson while his two daughters grew up, graduated high school, and both went on to graduate from college. He and LaDonna then moved to Palestine, TX where he began working for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in 2009.

James was a deacon at Evangelistic Temple in Palestine, where he served his community, his church family, and the children of the church.

James’s greatest joy was being a husband to LaDonna, a father to Charity and Michaela, a father-in-law to Keith and Rob, and the very best Papa to Alonso, Alexander, Ava, Remy, and Beau. His grandchildren were the light of his life and his best friends. James taught his children and grandchildren the value of integrity, hard work, and how to love and serve others well by the way he lived his life.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Mary Rice, his sister, Janice, and his niece Sharon.

A viewing will be conducted to honor his life at ten o’clock in the morning followed by a celebration of life service at eleven o’clock on Friday, February 16th, 2024, at Evangelistic Temple in Palestine, TX.

Funeral and cremation services for James Farrell Rice are in care of Rhone Funeral Home, 3900 S. State Highway 19, Palestine, Texas.

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