LaVonne Rice

LaVonne Rice was born on August 17, 1945 to Abraham and Kimba Lee Rice in Vanport, Oregon. He was raised by his paternal grandparents, Brady Earl and Lucille Turner in Portland, Oregon and was a member of Mount Olive/Williams Temple/Walker Temple Church from birth until the time of his death in 2021.

LaVonne graduated from Jefferson High School in 1964 with trophy's in music, Track & Field. After graduation, he studied at Portland State University.  From there he went on to a 23 year career at Tektronix in Beaverton, Oregon followed by a partnership in Porter’s Woodsmoke Bar-B-Que Catering Inc. and ownership of Savory Chefs Catering with clients that included The Portland Marathon, Governor Barbera Roberts, United Cerebral Palsy of Oregon, Stroheckers, Nike, and Sip D’Vine.

At the age of fifteen, he met his future wife at her brothers wedding. Four years later, in the summer of 1965 their vows were confirmed and blessed by Pastor Ernest Rand. A formal ceremony in March of 1966 was officiated by Bishop A.A Wells.

LaVonne was a beautiful soloist, and sang in his church choir throughout his life. Some of his other passions included fashion, cooking, serving people, and caring for the elderly and disabled. He had a wonderful, outgoing personality and never met a stranger.

A loving husband and father, he leaves to cherish his memory his wife Josie, their two daughters LaVetta Lynn Rice (Tony), Helen Butler (Tim), six grandchildren, Madison, Lauren, Brook, Jocelyn, Chancelor (Merlin) and Hayden, one great granddaughter Orion, two sisters Barbara Rice and Carol Richard, brother Quinton Rice and a host of extend family and friends.

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