Mary Ellen Rice

Mary Ellen Rice, 81, of Morehead City, passed away Friday, November 20, 2015 at Carteret Health Care.

A funeral service will be held 2:00 pm Monday, November 23, 2015 at First Free Will Baptist Church in Morehead City with Rev. Jerry Johnson. Interment will follow at Bayview Cemetery.

Mary Ellen Rice served for over 30 years at Beaufort Christian Academy both as Teacher and Principal. Before that she worked with the Child Evangelist Fellowship. She was also her church’s first foreign missionary who served in Brazil on the field for seven years. She was always a godly lady and active in her Church where she taught her junior class until her illness.

She is survived by her nieces and nephews and their families; Karen Hutton, Rhonda Sullivan, Roy F. Rice Jr, Jennifer Styron, John Rice, Greg Rice, Ruth D. Simpson, Leisha Mace, Kelly Sharpe, John Sharpe, Sandra Green, Janet Confer, Albert McElmon Jr and R. L Rice; two sister-in- laws, Hyacinth Rice and Barabara “Bobbi- Ann” Rice Goodwin; she is also survived by her companion Brancie Steele, and friends Sarah Steele, Yvonne Humphrey and Douglas Elliott. Lastly, she is survived by the love of her life Jon A. Swecker, her godson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Bonnie McCoy Rice and Sarah B. Rice; and  three brothers, Roy Fields Rice, Robert “Mousey” Rice, and Gregory Rice; two sisters, Marie McElmon and Burnette Sharpe; two brothers-in-law, Joe Sharpe and Al McElmon; two nephews, Danny Rice and Joseph Sharpe.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.