Patrick William Rice, 56 of Antonito

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Patrick William Rice, 56

ANTONITO ó Longtime Antonito resident Patrick William Rice, 56, died September 6, 2011 at his home in Antonito.

Pat was born December 2, 1954 at Mercy Hospital in Merced, Cali. to his father William Wade Rice and his mother Margie Lawrence Rice.

Pat attended the Seventh Day Adventist School in Chowchilla, California until 1964 then moved with his parents to Antonito when they bought the Ledger News, newspaper. Pat attended schools in Alamosa and Antonito, and he earned his degree in Diesel Mechanics at the El Rito Trade School.

Pat drove bus for the Antonito School District for a few years then took a position working for Conejos County as a mechanic. For three summers Pat worked as a Hot Shot Firefighter, fighting forest fires throughout the nation.

On January 12, 1981 Pat received a Commendation Citation for outstanding Exemplary Performance on December 29, 1980 for helping victims of an accident.

He loved cars and working on just about anything mechanical. He also enjoyed spending time in the mountains camping, fishing and hunting with his good friends.

Pat is survived by his sister Donna Rice of Albuquerque, N.M. and his brother Glen Rice of Edgewood, N.M.; his lifelong friends Gerald Cisneros of Antonito and Bobby Cummings of La Jara; his nieces and nephews: Sandra Tate, Sonya Barrandey, Shawn Gomez, Bill Rice, Robert Rice, Lori Lankford and Danielle Lankford; as well as a host of friends and extended family.

His parents and his sister Linda Wynn preceded him in death.

Cremation was chosen and a Memorial Service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at the Alamosa Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Rogers Family Mortuary of Alamosa is in care of the arrangements

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