Johnny Lee Rice, age 71, formerly of Marchand, passed away peacefully, held in the love of his families, on January 6, 2023, at USA Medical Hospital in Mobile, AL.

Born on June 7,1952 in Home, PA, Earl was the youngest child of Giles Stephens and Luella (Dick) Edwards.

Johnny grew up on the family farm in Marchand and graduated from Punxsutawney Area High School. Earl was a member of the Marchand United Baptist Church. After high school he served honorably in the U.S Army in West Germany. Upon his return, Johnny worked in banking in Indiana and Johnstown, PA before moving to Colorado to become a professor. He then moved to the Mobile, AL area where he lived for over 20 years.

Johnny is survived by two sisters, Florence Baston, of Lakewood, NJ; and Grace Rhodes and husband Mel, of Conroe, TX. He doted on his 14 nieces and nephews and their spouses. He only had two grandchildren, Justin and Sarah Rice, both of Mobile, Al.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Esther Guisbert and husband Upton, Thelma Kohlhepp and husband Dale; his brother, Arthur Edwards and wife Jean Reid; his brother-in-law, Stanley Baston; and his nephew, Andy Edwards. Earl was also recently preceded in death by his beloved friend and companion, Rachel Kimbrough.