Obituaries

Lawrence Allen Rice, 85, of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, died Thursday afternoon, September 24, 2023, at the U. P. Health System Hospital in Marquette.

Larry was born June 14, 1938, in Ogdensburg, New York, son of the late CE Rice and Violet L. Rice. Larry volunteered for the army and served in Europe for two years. On July 2, 1960, Larry married Catherine (Sue) Newton at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Sault Ste. Marie. He worked on the dredge in the St. Mary’s River while they lived in St. Ignace. After a few years, they moved to the Sault where he began working for the Edison Sault Electric Company as a lineman.

His hobbies included scuba diving, woodworking, fishing, hunting, and working with the “To Do Crew” at St. James’ Episcopal Church. He was a very active member of St. James’, participating in the Ministry Support Team as a deacon and serving as Junior Warden in charge of the building and grounds. Larry was a deeply spiritual man, a loving husband and father. He could fix anything and used his woodworking skills to make things for others. He was very generous with his time and skills.

In addition to his parents and in-laws, Arthur and Catherine (Kay) Newton, Larry is preceded in death by his son, Raymond Arthur Rice, and brother-in-law Jean Raoul (Cap) Gravelle.

Survivors include his loving wife Sue and daughter Leanne Rice of the Sault, siblings Fred Rice of New York, Carol Askworth of Alabama, and Robert Rice of Tennessee, in-laws Fred Newton and Marianne Buttner of Massachusetts, Barbara Gravelle of Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Dorothy and Phil Dansdill of Sault Ste. Marie, MI., and several nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grand nephews.

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 2, 2023, from 11:00 AM until 12:00 Noon with services to follow at 12:00 Noon at the Family Life Funeral Home, 4951 S. M-129, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 49783, with Father Bob Aldridge officiating.

The final resting place will be held at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to be made out in Larry’s name to the Hospice of the EUP, 308 W. 12th Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 49783.