Posted By:	Elisa von Rice
	Email:
	Subject:	MACK STARNES RICE,/ aka Mack S. von Rice, B: 2-17-1935, MEMPHIS, TN.
	Post Date:	March 18, 2009 at 14:35:53
	Message URL:	http://genforum.genealogy.com/tn/tipton/messages/327.html
	Forum:	Tipton County, TN Genealogy Forum
	Forum URL:	http://genforum.genealogy.com/tn/tipton/

MACK STARNES RICE/ AKA MACK S. VON RICE, BORN 2-17-1935, MEMPHIS TENNESSEE, D: 8-16-2008. Mack Starnes Rice, born 2-17-1935 in Memphis, Tennessee was the son of Malcolm ( Mack) Starnes Rice, Sr. and Wanda Griffin-Rice died 8-16-1008 in the Paradise Valley Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona. Mack was the Grandson of Carl Allen Rice & Clemmye LaVerne Starnes-Rice of the Covington, Tennessee area. The Great Grandson of James Henry Rice & Martha Allen-Rice of Covington and Frances & John Starnes of Munford, Tn. The G-Great G-Son of Charley Allen & Penny Ann Dozier-Allen of Covington. Pre 1957 the Rice Family, (Carl & Malcolm) owned a cotton farm (Highway 51 North ) at Millington, Tn. The Rice Family Trucking Company and the MILLINGTON COTTON GIN. MACK grew up attending the Millington, Tn. schools and graduated from MILLINGTON H. S. in 1953. After H.S. MACK graduated from the MEMPHIS Cotton Grading School. In 1956 Mack enlisted in the U.S. Military and was stationed at Ft.Bliss, Texas. After completing his military service, Mack joined his parents & grandparents in Casa Grande, Arizona where his family had relocated during his military service. Mack joined his Father & Grandfather in the management of their cotton farms, " SIGNAL MOUNTAIN FARMS" IN CASA GRANDE, ARIZONA. (The Casa Grande Valley was one of the largest producers of cotton in the world during this area). May 30th 1958 Mack married Elisa Jeane Strange the daughter of Bert Wm. Garland and Frances Wall-Strange a CASA GRANDE building contractor. The Strange family moved to the Casa Grande Valley in December of 1945 from Bakersfield, Ca. Bert had just completed the constuction of the barracks and hangers of what is now known as Edwards A.F. Base in California. In 1958 after the marriage Mack & Elisa (aka E.J.) moved to Fort Worth, Texas where Mack was enrolled in American Flyers School for Pilots and E.J. was enrolled at T.C.U. After Graduation Mack & E. J. moved to Hattiesburg, Ms. where his parents, Mack & Wanda G. Rice had relocated and purchased Green Hills Motel on Highway 11 South, 40 miles from New Orleans. Mack began flying for Delta out of New Orleans. In Hattiesburg Mack's only child a son was born on 9-11-1962, KURT GRIFFIN VON RICE. For Health reasons Mack & E. J . returned to Arizona where Mack became Gin Manager for Producers Cotton Oil Co. in Chandler, Az. and at the Producers Eloy Gin. In 1967-1972 MACK became finance manager for Producers Cotton Oil Company in Atlanta, Ga. Due to a transfer they again returned to Phoenix, Arizona. During these years Mack and E. J. traveled all over Europe many times to Germany, Austria, France, Belgium, Luxemborg, Litchenstein,Switzerland, England, Paris, Amsterdam & Prague, seeing the wonders of the world and pursuing Mack's hobby of collecting WW11 artifacts. In 1997 Mack retired and traveled some more visiting American Battlefields in Europe, East & West Berlin, The museums of old masters and the fantastic Cathedrals. On May 30th 2008 Mack & E. J. celebrated 50 years of marriage. Mack is survived by his wife E.J. of the home in Phoenix, his son Dr. Kurt G. von Rice & wife Deborah Ott-von Rice of Scottsdale, Arizona, his sister Peggy Dare Rice-Thurmond & husband Dr. Warren C. Thurmond of Tucson, Arizona. Services were held on Wednesday October 18, 2008 in the "Green Acres Chapel of Light" in Scottsdale, Arizona. Burial was in the Garden of Prayer next to his father & mother in the Green Acres Cemetery. Mack was of the Baptist faith and a member of the Mountain View Baptist Church in NorthEast Phoenix.