Susie Rice

Susie Rice of Kingfisher returned peacefully to the Lord on Feb. 23, 2026.

Born in Dallas, Texas, on April 24, 1951, but relocated later in life to Oklahoma with her husband, Tim, Susie considered Kingfisher to be her true home.

It was there that her kind spirit, giving nature and strong will continues to make an impact on the community and its residents.

An elementary school teacher for more than 34 years, Susie helped shape the minds and hearts of hundreds of students, with many to later request having their own children be in Mrs. Rice’s class.

While her small frame and quiet voice may have been overlooked by some, those who knew her best could easily see that her unselfish nature and generosity were readily given without limits or expectations.

The daughter of Dr. William and Bonnie O’Quin, Susie was the middle child of three siblings and would spend the early part of her life growing up in north Texas.

From an early age, Susie’s rambunctious spirit and outgoing personality gave her the ability to turn second grade acquaintances into lifelong friends.

Susie graduated high school as part of the Rams Class of 1969 in Mineral Wells, Texas, and it was while in high school that Susie would gain her passion for education as well as meet her future husband – Tim Rice.

Despite their on-again, off-again beginning that saw Tim drafted into the service by the U.S. Army, Susie went on to attend Baylor University where she would graduate with a bachelor’s in elementary education.

The twosome would later reunite in marriage in January 1974 at a ceremony in her childhood home.

From that moment, they were virtually inseparable and would go on to spend 45 years of devoted matrimony that led to the birth of their two children – Jessica and Matthew.

The family would later take up residence on the homestead of Tim’s grandparents where Susie humbly took on the duty of being a farmer’s wife while teaching both first and third grade during her time at Gilmour Elementary in Kingfisher.

Susie loved watching the lives of the children she taught as they matured into adulthood and would take great pride in watching them transition from school children to teenager to adults with their own families.

She once confessed one of her greatest fears was when past students would greet her in town or while traveling and she couldn’t recall their names.

Susie loved to garden and took great pride in preparing a fresh meal for anyone who entered her home. She enjoyed traveling, attending concerts, hummingbirds and settling into a good book. Susie also believed firmly in giving back to those less fortunate and proudly served as a board member of the local Meals on Wheels, taking part in the delivery for several years, including into the final weeks of her life.

Susie was also known far and wide for being a living encyclopedia of birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions for all those she considered friends and family.

Whether that included personalized mail or the first to post on social media, Susie was a master of personal correspondence and her collection of yearly calendars with dates marked of remembrances rarely left a day with cards not going out in the mail.

Following the death of her husband, Susie transitioned from her role of wife and mother into perhaps her favorite role of “Aunt Susie” to her extended family and then to “Mimi” for her grandchildren, to whom she continued providing encouragement and love until her last breath.

Susie was preceded in death by her husband, father and mother.

She is survived by her daughter Jessica Jones and her husband Stephen Jones along with their daughter Natalie; her son Matt Rice and his wife Jessica and their two children Aspen and River; her brother Bill O’Quin and wife Cheryl and her sister Marvene Eastham and husband James; along with a host of beloved in-laws, nieces, nephews, countless friends and self-adopted honorary grandchildren.

Memorial contributions can be made in Susie’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501. St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or the local Meals on Wheels, 201 S. 6th St., Kingfisher, OK 73750.

A wake service will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 1, and funeral service at 10 a.m. Monday, March 2, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Kingfi sher with burial to follow at Kingfisher Cemetery.

Services are under the direction of Sanders Funeral Service.