Leonard E. Rice

On March 7, 2015, Leonard E. Rice, age 69, of Warren, AR passed away at the Baptist Hospital in Little Rock. Leonard was born in Warren, AR on April 9, 1945 to Vester R. and Marie Nichols Rice. He served in the United States Army and was trained as a medic. In the early years, he worked in the family business, Rice and Sons, and was a cross-country trucker. He later was director of Work Alternatives and was appointed to Governor Mike Huckabees’ Workforce Education and Career Opportunities state board.  He was an avid outdoorsman and loved exploring the Saline River bottoms.  On June 21, 1970, the longest day of the year, his life and the lives of his family changed forever when he dove into the Ouachita River and resurfaced a quadriplegic.  Leonard and his fiancée, Sharon, were engaged to be married but fate took them a different path for a temporary time. Supported by an army of family, friends and medical support like the late Dr. Wallace Marsh, Leonard channeled his wild and playful spirit toward being a soldier on a new battlefield. After extensive rehabilitation, he attended the University of Illinois in Carbondale, and the University of Arkansas at Monticello from which he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a minor in history. He also completed a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Therapy from the University of Arkansas. Leonard was also a Mason. He was always the designer of a new project in which he was the brain and one or more family members were the hands and feet.  As a result, he was able to again hunt and explore new hobbies like flying model airplanes. Leonard always took great pride in the accomplishments of his family and was a great supporter of his son, Marcus’, music career.  Sharon and Leonard never forgot the days of listening to, When a Man Loves a Woman, as they sat at the Corral hangout or drove the Potlatch roads. On June 21, 1997, exactly 27 years to the date of his accident, Sharon and Leonard were married.


Leonard was a Christian and knew his Lord had a plan for him.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Vester R. Rice and Marie Nichols Rice, and a brother-in-spirit, Noah N. Smith. He is survived by his wife Sharon Rice of Warren, a son Marcus Brown (Martha) of Nashville, TN and his granddaughter Anna Marie who was the sparkle in his eye,  a step-son, Jamie Brown (Tiffany) of Nashville, TN, a brother, Lavern Rice (Reba) of Warren, two sisters, Patsy Smith of Warren and Peggy Doss (Auddy) of Monticello, his two nieces who loved their Uncle Leonard, Elizabeth Nowlen (Joe) of Monticello, Catherine Jackson (John) of Star City, two great-nieces, Jordyn and Noah Presley Nowlen both of Monticello.  

Funeral services were Wednesday, March 11 at 2:00PM at Frazer Funeral Home with Rev. Wayman Mann and Dr. Ron Moseley officiating. Linda Barrett was organist and The Bryant Sisters sang. Burial was in Union Cemetery in Rye. Active pallbearers were Tracy Nichols, Donald Hollingsworth, John George, Matt Rice, Andy Nichols, Warren Nichols and Tim Nichols. Honorary pallbearers were Dr. Dichelle George, Delbert Nichols, Grady Laster, Dean Nichols, Ralph Reep, Billy Barnett, John Nichols, Bill Wisener and John Lipton. Online guestbook  HYPERLINK "http://www.frazerfuneralhome.com" www.frazerfuneralhome.com