Obituary of Peggy Eileen Rice

Peggy Eileen Rice of Springfield, Oregon passed away peacefully on December 7th, 2022. She was 89 years old. She was born January 28th, 1933, in Sierra Madre, California. She is preceded in death by her father Daniel Carl Knowles, mother Ethel Gertrude Tuggle and siblings Richard and Daniel.

Her family moved to Grants Pass where she lived before moving to Eugene, Oregon to attend Northwest Christian College. While in college she met her sweetheart and husband Richard E. Rice whom she leaves behind. The couple were married 69 years. She had three children, Cynthia (Paul) Gilchrist, Jeffery (Sandra) Rice, and Kathleen (Howard) Smith. She also had nine grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren.

During her life, she was a giver of her time and talents. She was a bookkeeper for her husband’s CPA firm before partnering with close friends to start a florist business. She eventually retired from her florist business but never lost her love of plants and gardening. She was instrumental in the design and development of Ruff Park, located in Springfield.

She was very social with many interests and hobbies. She was a volunteer with the SMART reading program, and the Springfield Library. She helped with the University of Oregon’s Friendship Foundation helping foreign students become acclimated to the University.

Most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and relaxing at the family cabin at the Oregon Coast. She was known and loved by many as “Grammy”. She will be remembered for her quick laugh, and love for the color blue. Most importantly she loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Grammy will be missed.