Josie (Kenagy) Rice was born in Hubbard, Oregon, and grew up on the family farm with five older brothers.
In 1948, she married Homer Rice from Ohio. Together they raised three sons, who survive: Denny (Ruth) of Vancouver, Washington, Fred (Gloria) of the Silverton Hills, and Pete (Christy Thomas) of Silverton.
Also surviving are four grandchildren: Tricia (Tim) King of Silverton, Michele Herman of Hillsboro, Jolene (Jordan) Daniels of Oregon City, and Joel Donley (Savannah Swartz) of Keizer, plus eight great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren. She also considered Ron and David Nelson, both of the Silverton area, to be her bonus sons.
Josie loved people, especially small children. It was not unusual to find extra people in her cozy Silverton Hills home, enjoying her famous cinnamon rolls or playing games.
Josie’s faith in God was unwavering. She began every day by reading a devotional passage and singing a traditional hymn, and she was a mainstay of the Chapel in the Hills.
She is buried next to Homer in Green Mountain Cemetery. No public memorial is planned. For a full obituary and access to a video of her life, visit the Unger Funeral Chapel website.
