William James Rice, Jr.

William James Rice, Jr., loving husband, father, brother, uncle and grandfather passed away peacefully on May 21, 2016.  He was 63 years old.  William, warmly referred to as Bill, was born in Boston, Massachusetts on July 18, 1952.  Bill graduated from St. Dominic Savio High School in 1970.  After high school, he earned a journalism degree from the University of Massachusetts and received postgraduate degrees in counseling from the University of Phoenix and teaching from the University of Utah.  He also made progress towards a doctorate degree.  Bill married the love of his life, Jayne Ann Crandall, in the Salt Lake Temple in 1983.  They were blessed with two children, Rebekah Mary Elizabeth (Becky) and Jordan Spencer, and two grandchildren, William Hayward Sparks and Jacob Daniel Sparks.

Bill enjoyed a wide variety of interests and activities.  As a youth, he spent many hours by the sea near his home in Winthrop, Massachusetts.  He enjoyed endless hours in his blue dingy, sailing near the sandbar across the street from his home and exploring Boston Harbor.  Later in life, his enthusiasm for the outdoors led him to enjoy the beauties of Escalante in Southern Utah.  Bill was an avid sports enthusiast and devoted his loyalty to any professional team that called Boston home, including the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics and Bruins.  After moving west, he adopted the BYU Cougars as his favorite college team.  He and Jayne frequently enjoyed operas and plays together.  Bill served his country in the United States Navy, where he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and subsequently served his fellow man as a teacher, counselor, and school psychologist, teaching and guiding the lives of many children.  

Bill is survived by his wife, Jayne and his daughter Becky Sparks (David), and grandson, William Hayward and son Jordan Spencer. He is also survived by his sisters, Mary Rota (Daniel), Anne Hunt (Robert), and Roseanne Apel (Ewald) and many close nieces, nephews and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his father and mother, William Rice, Sr. and Mary Katherine Hurley and grandson, Jacob Daniel Sparks.

Bill's family expresses deep gratitude for the loving staff of South Davis Community Hospital and the wonderful care they provided Bill.  

Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 27th, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bountiful 27th Ward Chapel, 1145 North 200 East. Friends and family may visit on Thursday, May 26th from 6:00 – 8:00 at the Bountiful 27th Ward chapel and on Friday morning from 9:45-10:45 prior to services.  Interment-Spanish Fork Cemetery.