Aileen Rice

Canton - Mary Aileen Francis Rice passed away peacefully at John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center on Thursday, October 4, 2018, just two days shy of her ninetieth birthday.

Aileen was born on October 6, 1928 in Everett, Washington to Mattie Anna Dee Francis and Fred Dewey Francis.

Following her father's unexpected passing in the spring of 1929, the family returned to their roots in Haywood County where Aileen would live for the remainder of her life.

Aileen was a 1947 graduate of Clyde High School and attended Gardner Webb College.

A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, Aileen's life was centered around serving others and the community she loved. Aileen retired in 1986 from the Haywood County School System. She worked in the Guidance Department of Pisgah High School and was an active member of Beaverdam United Methodist Church.

The consummate fighter, Aileen was a two-time survivor of breast cancer. Additionally, she was instrumental in forming the grassroots effort, BAND - Beaverdam Against Nuclear Dumping - in 1986 to help preserve the community she so loved.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 64 years, Jack Jesse Rice, who passed away in 2014; parents, loving stepfather, Henry Nelson Mease; brother, Fred Dewey Francis, Jr. and sister, Phyllis Mease Haynes.

Surviving to cherish her memory are daughters, Suzanne Rice Oakley and her husband, John, of Tampa, Florida, Robyn Rice Gillis and her husband, Paul, of Greenville, South Carolina and Kim Rice Adams of LaGrange, Georgia; grandchildren, Logan Adams Johnston and her husband, Chris, of Gulfport, Mississippi, John Paul Gillis and his wife, Brittney, of Greenville, South Carolina, Carlyle Gillis of Greenville, South Carolina, Emery Adams of LaGrange, Georgia, Jack Oakley of Tampa, Florida and Gray Oakley of Boca Raton, Florida; great-grandsons, Deacon Gillis and Jack Johnston. Also surviving are her life-long best friend, Bonnie Sorrells Carver and her daughter, Janice Carver Parham, whom Aileen affectionately referred to as her fourth daughter.

The family wishes to thank the countless people on Beaverdam who shared a dear friendship with both Jack and Aileen.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 7, 2018 at Beaverdam United Methodist Church at 80 Rice Cove Road, Canton, NC 28716 with a reception following to celebrate her beautiful ninety years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Beaverdam Community Center, where she and Jack were founding members, 323 Rough Water Point, Canton, NC 28716.
The care of Aileen has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes and an online memorial register is available at "Obituaries" at www.wellsfuneralhome.com

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