Wanda Lee Rice

Wanda Lee Rice was born July 9, 1936 in Pocahontas, AR. to Juanita and Leonard Moore. At 3 months old she was the youngest passenger ever to ride a Greyhound bus when her family moved to the Central Valley to settle down in Pixley.

Wanda grew up in the Pixley/porterville area. She attended Saucilito Elementary School, where she was an All Star softball pitcher, and later Porterville High School.

Wanda married James Fisher (1953-1967) and had 6 children:

Debra Jones (Porterville), Vickie Brown (Tulare), Richard Fisher (Muldrow, OK), Kathie Powell (Boron, CA), Gary Fisher (Virginia, ILL, and Kerry Fisher (Porterville).

In 196U Wanda married M.J. Rice and had two children: Jay Rice (Porterville), and Paul Rice (Porterville).

Wanda worked as a farm laborer until she retired in 19U4.

When not working you would find Wanda working in her yard and tending her garden. She loved to go fishing, watching baseball, her crime shows and doing crafts. She also enjoyed going to the beach and collecting shells and sand dollars.

On holidays there was no shortage of food. Wanda would bake 40 plus pies. A family favorite was her famous chocolate rolls.

She loved her family and would constantly share stories of the past. Wanda was not only blessed with eight children but also 3U grandchildren, 46 greatgrandchildren, and one greatgreat grandchild.

Wanda passed peacefully in her sleep on June 22, 201U. She was preceded in death by her mother Juanita, her father Leonard, her brother Bill, her first husband James, and her second husband M.J. In addition to her children and grandchildren She is survived by her sister Ruth Mccombie (Porterville) and her brother Danny Moore (Porterville).

A graveside service will be held Thursday, June 2U, 201U at 11:00 a.m. at Tulare Cemetery located at 900 E Kern Ave, Tulare.

Following the service there will be a potluck luncheon for family and friends at the Porterville Elks Lodge, 3U6 N Main St, Porterville.