Margaret Ellen (Wooley) Rice

Margaret Ellen Wooley Rice, 88, of Hot Springs, formerly of Crossett, passed on Saturday, March 8, 2025.  She was born on July 25, 1936, to her parents, John Wesley and Sylvia Lawrence Wooley, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.  

She graduated from Watson Chapel High School in 1954 and was a charter member of Matthews Memorial Baptist Church of Pine Bluff.  She earned her Master of Education in Business at Northeast Louisiana University (ULM) and her Bachelor of Education in Business at Arkansas A & M (UAM) in 1957.  Education was important to her, and she was very proud that all her children and grandchildren graduated from college.  Margaret and Jimmy’s hard work left a legacy of education for their family.

She met her husband, Jimmy Wade Rice, at Arkansas A & M (UAM).  He courted her from Korea during the war and married her on November 22, 1958, after he returned from Korea.  They were married for 56 years. 

She retired from teaching at Crossett High School.  She also taught at Altheimer High School, Fountain Hill High School, and Forest Echoes Technical Institute, where she taught grades 8-12, English, typing, accounting, and business education classes.  She was a Future Business Leaders of America adviser at the local level and served as coordinator of District III Future Business Leaders of America for many years.  She was an active member of Alpha Delta Kappa teacher’s sorority and the Ashley County Retired Teachers Association.

She was a member of First Baptist Church in Crossett, where she served in Vacation Bible School, AWANA, and Women on Mission, taught Sunday school, and was a member of the JOY Sunday School Class. She loved Jesus and was a prayer warrior for many.

Her favorite pastimes were visiting with her her 3 daughters (lovingly known as “The Rice Girls”), going on trips, and shopping. She had a beautiful voice and enjoyed listening and singing Southern Gospel music. In her spare time, she was a seamstress, often monogramming and making doll clothes and matching outfits for her daughters and granddaughters.  She enjoyed spending time in the kitchen and cooking for her family using recipes from her large collection of cookbooks. She collected hundreds of Hallmark ornaments for her grandchildren. She enjoyed spoiling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, her parents, her brother Floyd Wooley of Pine Bluff, brother-in-law Cecil Toon, son-in-law Robert Butler, and three sisters-in-law, Sandie Rice and Donna Rice of Crossett and Jane Wooley of Pine Bluff.

Survivors include her three daughters, Sherry Harris (Lee) of Glenwood, Glenda Kirkpatrick (Gil) of Magnolia, and Suzanne Butler of Hot Springs; five grandchildren, Ben McCain (Kacee) and Brea McCain Pruett (Wes) all of Fayetteville, Colton Harris of Spring, Texas, and Anna Claire Butler and John Thomas Butler of Hot Springs; three great-grandchildren, Silas, Miles, and Elias McCain of Fayetteville; her sister, Mary Wooley Toon, of New Braunfels, Texas; three brothers-in-law, Ronald Rice (Earlene), Dale Rice, Billy Rice; sister-in-law Kay Robinson, all of Crossett; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held Thursday, March 13th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Medders Funeral Home, 1564 Hwy 52 W, in Crossett.

Following a private burial, a Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, March 14th, at First Baptist Church, 701 Main St, in Crossett with Bro. Jamie Staley officiating.  Active pallbearers are Ben McCain, Colton Harris, John Thomas Butler, Wes Pruett, Mark Toon, and Greg Elam.  Honorary pallbearers are members of her JOY Sunday School Class at FBC.

The family would like to give a special thank you to her outstanding caregivers, Sharon, Alijah, and Elena.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice.

This beautiful obituary written and submitted by Margaret's daughters.

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