Paul Douglas Rice

Paul Douglas “Doug” Rice, 79, passed away Friday, June 9, 2023, following a short illness.  He was born Feb. 7, 1944 in Freeman Hospital in Joplin to Eugene Douglas Rice and Helen Elsie (Greenwood) Rice. Doug attended school at Belleville, IL, Carthage and Neosho. After he graduated from Neosho High School, he attended Joplin Junior College and then transferred to MU where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry June 6, 1967. After graduating from MU, he joined the Army. He went to Fort Belvoir, VA, where he went through the Engineer Officer Candidate Course and graduated as a Second Lieutenant. From there he then went and completed Mechanical Maintenance Officer Course at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. He then transferred to Fort Leonard Wood. His main duties while in the Army were Officer in Charge of Quick Fire Training and Assistant S-4 Officer and Property Book Officer. Doug served his country from 1967 – 1970.

While stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Doug met the love of his life, Janice Coale, on a blind date, in 1969. They were married Dec. 27, 1969 at Hazel Dell Missionary Baptist Church in El Dorado Springs. After his discharge from the United States Army, Doug and Janice moved to Martinsville, VA. During this time Doug worked as a forester, procuring pulp for West Vaco Company. Doug and Janice lived in Virginia for two years.

In 1972, they moved back to their southwest Missouri roots, living in Joplin, where Doug switched careers. Doug completed his associate’s degree in nursing at Northeast Oklahoma Junior College. They then moved to Springfield where Doug was able to complete his anesthesia training at Southwest School of Anesthesia, becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. During this time Doug and Janice had a son, Todd, in November of 1973 and a daughter, Chelsey, in December of 1976.

After completing his degree in Springfield, Doug worked at Freeman Hospital as a nurse anesthetist until he got a job with Barton County Memorial Hospital in Lamar. Doug and his family moved to Oakton. In 1979, Doug and Janice purchased a farm northeast of Lamar where he lived until he passed away. In 1991, Doug accepted a position at Cedar County Memorial Hospital in El Dorado Springs. He worked there for 19 years and retired in 2010. After his retirement, Doug worked part-time at Appleton City Hospital for about five years. Doug worked hard all of his life and passed on this strong work ethic to his children and grandsons.

In 1976, at True Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Doug stood and told the Church he had been saved as a young boy. Doug went back to a time, about the age of nine, when God convicted him of his sins, making him afraid Hell and scared to die. Following the Spirit, Doug was saved when he stepped out into the aisle to seek God. He told that after he was saved, he was not afraid anymore. He was baptized by Austin McGinnis and joined True Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Springfield. He later moved his membership to New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, in Jasper. In 1983, Doug moved his membership to Bethel Missionary Baptist Church near Nevada where he was a member until his death, serving as a Deacon.

He is survived by his loving wife, Janice, of  53 years; son, Todd (Melissa) Rice – Jerome, ID; daughter, Chelsey Rice – El Dorado Springs; two grandsons, Tristan Broyles, El Dorado Springs and Stetson Rice, Jerome, ID; a sister, Judy (Jack) Hubbard, Neosho, and several nieces and nephews. Family was extremely important to Doug and he loved his family with his whole heart. He is proceeded in death by his parents.

Services were Saturday, June 17, at Hazel Dell Missionary Baptist Church in El Dorado Springs. Interment followed at Hazel Dell Cemetery.