James Farrell Rice
June 27, 1955 ~ February 7, 2024
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.
Fond memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared with his family electronically by selecting the "Share a Memory" icon.
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
I’m so very sorry for your loss. I will miss Rice at work and all his silliness. He was a great friend.
I worked with Rice and he also became a Sgt where we worked. I had many conversations with him in the day and he was always kind and supportive. He never judged and never spoke bad about anyone. In that type of working environment, it was hard to find someone with that type of soul and integrity and I am so glad I met him. My heart felt condolences to his wife and family. I know he is with the Angels and May he rest Heavenly in pease.
Remember all the help you gave me while working along side you.
Had the distinct pleasure to work with Mr. Rice. Great man who leaves behind a great legacy.
James was a part of the first church life group I was in at Evangelistic Temple. The first night I met him I gave testimony and I can remember him coming up from behind me and whispering in my ear, how Our Lord is there protecting me. Every Sunday at church, he would sneak up behind me at random times and give me big bear hugs from behind. I knew it was James. I will miss those hugs.
Wow, we go way back with Farrell and Ladonna. In the early 80’s we all served the Lord at church in Salina Oklahoma. We were all so young in the Lord and Ladonna And Farrell and us were together really most every day of the week. We are together, raised our kids together and watch each other grow in the Lord. I remember thinking often about Farrell “How can he always be so up about God all the timeâ€. He was always talking about what Good had done for him and his family. Always happy and always loving his girls and his sweet wife which he adored. The memories will always be good brother!