Obituary of Nancy Ferdie Rice

To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

Nancy Ferdie (Passmore) Rice, age 76 of Sylva NC, ran to Jesus on Monday, December 28, 2020.   She was born on September 18, 1944, in Franklin NC, to the late Dewey and Mae (nee Alexander) Passmore.

She loved the Lord and was active at the church in every community she belonged to.  Nancy enjoyed fishing, the arts, painting, the outdoors, and wearing hats and cowboy boots; but her favorite passion was spending time with her family and friends. She was known by her grandchildren as Ma, and her great-grandchildren as MeeMa.

Nancy will be dearly missed by her children, Melissa Ledford (Sean Bryson), Lynn (John) Rotan, Stephen (April) Rice; sister, Jean Chapman; grandchildren, Clarissa (Brandon) Cope, Christon (Jackie) Rice, Dylan (Lindsey) Rice, Cody Rice, Olivia Rice; many great-grandchildren; and special friend, Laurel Dills.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, William Earvin Rice; son, William “Bill” Earvin Rice, Jr; sister, Georgia (Tom) Jackson; grandsons, Jeremy Stewart, Chase Rice; and brother-in-law, Hubert Chapman.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Nancy's memory to: Four Seasons Hospice 571 S Allen Rd Flat Rock NC 28731.   

Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Appalachian Funeral Services of Sylva NC. A Memorial Service for Nancy will take place at 3:00pm, Wednesday, December 30, at the funeral home chapel.