Cecy Taylor Rice's Obituary
Cecy Taylor Rice peacefully passed away on June 5th, 2026 with loving family members by her side. Cecy was an amazing woman, loving wife, accomplished historian, and beloved relative whose grace and love touched all those around her.
Cecy was born on October 29, 1938, at McCormick Hospital in Moberly, Missouri, the daughter of Henry A. Taylor and Dorothy Ash Taylor.
Cecy graduated from Moberly High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education from Kirksville College, now Truman State University, in Kirksville, Missouri. Following college, she taught art in Vandalia, Illinois. While pursuing an advanced degree at the University of Missouri she met her future husband, Karl Rice, the love of her life.
Cecy and Karl moved to St. Louis County where Karl was a public-school counselor. Together, they operated an antique shop filled with historical items. Cecy’s passion was family genealogy, a pursuit she expertly studied throughout her adult life.
In 1979, they moved to Moberly, Cecy’s hometown, and soon became involved in the Randolph County Historical Society. Cecy ran the archives and museum for more than 10 years, served as President, created and edited the Society’s quarterly newsletter for 20 years, and was membership Chair. She and Karl received the McReynolds Award for achievements in historic preservation and were named Directors Emeritus of the Randolph County Historical Society by the Randolph County Commission. Cecy belonged to many organizations, including the League of Women Voters, P.E.O. Chapter AK, the Democratic Club, Music Club, DAR, Red Hat, and Huntsville Historical Society. She also held several positions on the Board of Directors of the Missouri State Genealogical Society. Cecy was a member of Coates Street Presbyterian Church where she sang in the choir and served as an Elder. She was also President of the Little Dixie Regional Libraries Board while the addition to the Moberly library was constructed. Cecy and Karl loved gardening and opened their garden to the public, including several award-winning years on the annual Daylilies Home Tour.
In 2020, Cecy and Karl moved to Butterfield Trail Village, in Fayetteville, Arkansas to be near their sister, Barbara, and brother-in-law, Doug. They were active and beloved residents as Cecy joined the in-house PEO group and continued to immerse herself in genealogy research. She and Karl became a popular couple on their floor. Using their apartment door as a medium, they became resident publicists for their great-nephew and godson, Caden Chittenden, as he set Nevada high school placekicking records and then was a Freshman All-American. Cecy and Karl dedicated a lot of time to this, and it served as a great conversation starter in the dining room for Cecy. Cecy remained loyal to her Royals, Cardinals, and MU Tigers roots…only occasionally wearing a Razorback shirt to better keep the peace. (But never when MU played Arkansas)
Cecy was very close to her sister, Carol Taylor Boal. They took many trips around the country doing genealogy, exploring cemeteries, and antiquing. Together with their husbands, Jack and Karl, they visited back and forth between Missouri and Iowa, and at the Boal’s winter home in Arizona. They also spent many treasured hours at Jack’s cabin on Iowa’s Cedar River. Cecy was also very close to her nephew and nieces, Dave, Mindy and Brenda. For their entire childhoods, almost every holiday was spent together, either in Iowa or Missouri. Their favorite activities and memories were Six Flags, the St. Louis Zoo, or Cardinal baseball games. Cecy was proud of her great nieces and nephews and attended almost all of their high school graduations. She and Karl traveled to South Dakota for all the Houser graduations and were able to attend their oldest great-niece Samantha’s wedding in Iowa City in 2017. Cecy and Carol had their last reunion in Iowa City in 2023, and they spoke on the phone frequently until Carol’s death in May 2024. We can envision their joyous reunion in heaven!
Cecy was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Karl Rice; her sister, Carol Taylor Boal; her brother-in-law, Jack Boal; her great niece, Miranda Jane, Houser and an infant brother. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Barbara (Doug) Prichard; her nephews David (Elizabeth) Boal, JD (Sarah) Prichard, Jim (Lori) Chittenden, Brandon Prichard, and Eric Prichard; and her nieces, Mindy (Woody) Houser and Brenda Vrchoticky. Also surviving are her great-nephews and great-nieces, Ava Prichard, Caden Chittenden, Paige Prichard, Jessica Prichard, Bryan and Dan (Britany) Boal, Max and Reese (Emily) Vrchoticky, Benjamin and Taylor Houser, Samantha (Mike) Donovan, Alinia (Joe) Eberhard, Eleanor Vrchoticky and Bess (Adam) Beck.
A Celebration of Life honoring both Cecy and Karl Rice is scheduled for 2:30 pm on July 12th, 2026 at Coates Street Presbyterian Church in Moberly, MO.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to the Randolph County Historical Society or Coates Street Presbyterian Church, Moberly, MO.
To sign the online guest book please visit https://www.bernafuneralhomes.com
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