Joseph Doul Rice

November 4, 1934 - December 1, 2020

Joseph Doul Rice, 86, of Altus, Arkansas died December 1, 2020. He was a retired Heavy Equipment Operator and Farmer. He was a member of the Cattlemen’s Association, past Chairman of the Franklin County Democrat Committee, past member of Cass Job Corp Advisory Board and Member/Steward of the International Union of Operating Engineers. He was past Grand Chaplin of the State of Arkansas Grand Lodge 33rd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, past Master of the Ozark Masonic Lodge #79, Member of the Coal Hill Masonic Lodge #383 and a Charter Member of the Solomon Lodge #767 in St. Paul. Through his accomplished expertise on operations of heavy equipment and his ability to work with people he helped to secure and achieve the completion of the Arkansas River Bridge at Ozark,I-40 Interstate in Franklin Country, Ozark Jetta Taylor Lock and Dam and Arkansas Nuclear One. He was born November 4, 1934 in Blytheville, Arkansas to Harry Ray and Mary Lora Cathrin Arnold Rice. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, L.T. Rice and Ray Hullen Rice; two sisters, Freda King and Loretta Conyers. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Martha Rice of Altus; three daughters, Sharon Farnam and husband Roger of Ozone, Arkansas, Jeannie Finley and husband Joe of Ozark, Arkansas and Charlotte Bugg and husband Ronny of Altus; two brothers, Vernon Rice and wife Pearl of Altus and Donald Rice and wife Norma of Plainview, Arkansas; grandchildren, Bobby Milam of Mississippi, Jamie Gilbert and husband Cody of Missouri, Leah Rene Garner and husband Paul of Altus, Joseph Finley of Fayetteville, Arkansas and Lydia Lukins and husband Tylor of Ozark; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM Friday December 4, 2020 at Houston Cemetery in Alix, Arkansas with Brother J. D. Ellison officiating under direction of Shaffer Funeral Home. Open viewing will be held Thursday December 3, 2020 from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Shaffer Funeral Home 2315 West Commercial Street Ozark, Arkansas. Serving as pallbearers; Ronny Bugg, Roger Farnam, Joe Finley, Joseph Finley, Paul Garner, Cody Gilbert, Tylor Lukins and Bobby Milam. Honorary Pallbearers; Jim Collins, Charles Murphy, Jody Ray, DeWayne Rice, Johnny Rice, Lonnie Turner, Ozark Masonic Lodge and Coal Hill Masonic Lodge. To leave online condolences visit: www.shafferfuneralhomeozark.com