Joseph “Joe” Spencer Rice, 69, of Nederland, died Friday, December 22, 2017. Joe was born March 15, 1948 in Port Arthur to the late Elmer Rice and Viola Brandin Rice. Joe lived most of his life in Port Acres until he moved to Nederland in 1983. He and his wife Linda operated a day care center in their home for 25 years. Joe was a member of the Fellowship Baptist Church in Nederland and served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

A gathering of the family and friends will be held on Tuesday, December 26, 2017 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. with his funeral service to begin at 2:00 p.m. at Melancon’s Funeral Home in Nederland with Dr. Phil Webber officiating. Military graveside services will follow at Memory Gardens of Southeast Texas Cemetery in Nederland.

Joe is survived by his wife, Linda of Nederland; his sons, Clint Rice and his wife Regina of Houston, and Clifford Rice and Page Broussard of Nederland; his daughters, Andrea Guidry and her husband Jason of Fannett, and Rhonda Cloyd and her Jason of Nederland; sister, Dorothy Landrum of Beaumont; sister-in-law, Louise Rice. Joe also leaves behinds 21 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews. Joe is preceded in death by his parents, and brother, Gary Rice.