Alita Rice

Alita Ann Rice, 64, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, April 6, 2005, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

She was born Nov. 29, 1940, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Omer J. and Margaret M. Rush Shell. She and Harold L. "Bill" Rice were married Aug. 12, 1984, in California. He died April 3, 2005.

Rice was a 1957 graduate of Lutesville High School. She worked at McDonnell Douglas and Continental Can Co. in St. Louis, and managed rental properties 20 years in San Diego, Calif.

Survivors include a daughter, Tammy Eichhorn of Jackson; a son, Jim Rice of Loveland, Colo.; a stepdaughter, Star Biancardi of Mobile, Ala.; two brothers, Jerry Shell of Baton Rouge, La., Omer Shell Jr. of Marble Hill, Mo.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, and two infant sisters.

Friends may call at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson from 9:30 a.m. Saturday until time of service.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Sam Roethemeyer officiating. Burial will be in Baker Cemetery near Marble Hill.