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Roberta Kay Johnson Rice

Roberta Kay Johnson Rice, 75, of Hickory, passed away Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, at Catawba Regional Hospice in Newton, NC. Roberta was born February 22, 1942 in Kansas City, MO to the late Robert Johnson and the late Helen Richardson Johnson. Mrs. Rice grew up in the Kansas City area where she met her husband, Larry Rice. They then lived in Fort Lauderdale, FL for 13 years before moving to Hickory in 1985.

Roberta was a loving wife and mother, and proud grandmother of 13 grandchildren. She was a full-time homemaker for many years, and was also employed by Southwood Reproductions & Hickory Community Chapel before retiring. She was a member of Christ Alive Church, Newton, active in the Dorcas Ladies ministry, enjoyed leading Bible studies and was a frequent greeter at Sunday services. She was a skillful quilter, talented at a variety of arts and crafts, and was passionate about flower gardening.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Lawrence L. Rice; sons, Mark Allen Rice and wife, Rhonda, of Medina, OH and Brian Johnson and wife, Terri, of St. Louis, MO; daughters, Katherine Shirilla and husband, George, of Hickory, and Deborah Cally of Crescenta, CA; and grandchildren, Peter, Laura & Daniel Shirilla, Julian Cally, Joshua, Jonathan, Jeremy, Elizabeth, Justin & Jason Rice, and Brooke & Evan Johnson. She is also survived by her brother and three sisters; Floyd Johnson of Bloomfield, NM, Carol Kuhns and husband, John, of Parkville, MO, Mary Muncy and husband, Jerry, of Memphis, TN, and Elizabeth Burry and husband, Charlie, of Kansas City, MO.

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28 at Highland Baptist Church officiated by Roberta's son, Rev. Mark Rice. The family will receive friends from 12:00-1:15 p.m. prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Catawba Regional Hospice, 3975 Robinson Rd, Newton, NC 28658 or to Christ Alive Church, Attn: Dorcas Ladies, 1549 Southwest Blvd, Newton, NC 28658.

Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Mrs. Rice.

Guest Registry is available at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com


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