Kellye Renee Rice, age 55, died on December 23, 2022, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was born on May 18, 1967 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Betty and James Korne. Kellye graduated from Tulsa Adventist High School in 1985, then furthered her training by obtaining a degree in Education from Northeastern State University.
In 1993, Kellye moved to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma and accepted a position as a teacher at Summit Christian Academy, Wright Christian Academy, and Cornerstone Tutorial Center. She inspired students at these two academies for more than 20 years. In June of 1988 she married the love of her life, Donald Rice. They made their home in Broken Arrow and later moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Kellye, was deeply involved in teaching and mission work for the majority of her life. Her mission work took her to many cities in the US, Belize, and Africa as well as on many other journeys. She enjoyed traveling the world as she and Don voyaged to fascinating cities like Rome, Sicily, Athens, and Ephesus. She cherished many cruises of the Caribbean and Mexican Riviera and would always return with a treasure or two. Kellye was a talented gardener and was always on the lookout for different varieties of her favorite flowers, tomatoes and herbs. She loved to participate in countless types of games and relished when one of her preferred magnificent machines paid off!
Kellye was an exceptional home designer which is evident in the more than 30 homes that she and her husband renovated in and around Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Tulsa real estate market has been forever enhanced by her one-of-a-kind contributions of creativity, imagination and personal style.
Kellye is survived by her husband, Donald, their son, Lain Rice of Broken Arrow, her sister Dianna Herald of Keller, Texas, and her brother Bill Creech. She loved all of her numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents Betty and James Korne and sister Carol Ann Korne.
A memorial service is scheduled for 2 pm on December 29th, at Fitzgerald Southwest Colonial Chapel in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent to the American Heart Association.