Ann Harris Rice

Growing up, my Grammy taught me to appreciate beautiful things.  She introduced me to the ballet, the symphony and the opera. She was loving and fun and I looked forward to every minute with her.  As I became an adult my grandma evolved from Grammy to Ann.  As I spent time with her each Sunday morning, she transformed in my mind.  I began to know her as a curious child, a spry teenager, a young mother and a hardworking business woman.  Sunday mornings brought opportunities to discuss politics, religion and once in a while even gossip. Throughout these discussions, Ann taught me to think critically, be strong in my career and authentic at all times.   Ann believed in equality and fairness backed by decades of thoughtful experience. She inspired me to value friendships as she had an incredibly rich social life.  Most of all my now ageless Grammy showed me what true grace really means.  She was exquisite.

-Keri Kraatz

My Grandmother was an incredibly kind, strong woman. When she asked, "How are you?" or "What have you been up to?" there was no question that she honestly wanted to know. The way she lit up when she was with family was enlightening. I am exceptionally inspired by the way she always maintained her sense of humor and her infectious smile. I will never forget her striking blue eyes I see in my father that are both calming and lucid.

She was my only grandmother I had the privilege to know, and she was the epitome of what a grandmother should be.

-Matisse Rice

I have a funny memory but I'm not sure if I remember or if I just heard the story so many times it became one. So one time driving with Grandma, my sister and I were in the back seat of her car – I don't know where we were going but we were going fast with no regard for speed bumps. My parents were in the car behind us, we were very young and they couldn't see the tops of our heads til Grandma hit one of the speed bumps and our heads came flying into view. Grandma was always fun. I'll miss her.

-Cooper Rice

Throughout  life my Gram has taught me many lessons, most of which she is not aware. She taught me about perseverance, patience and love. She taught me to find myself and to be true to that authentic nature. She taught me about love, family and marriage. She married a handsome soldier returning from the War and had three beautiful, successful children. She taught me to have patience and kindness in relationships and to appreciate others for who they are inherently. She taught me the value of teaching my children to trust themselves and take their own path. Her oldest son, Bill is an adventurer, photographer and Berkeley educated lawyer.  Her daughter, Christine, is an educator, world traveler and has the ability to change the world one life at a time. Her youngest son, John, is a creator and builder. He seeks adventure wherever he finds himself and is able to make connections with others through his kind spirit. Gram celebrated these traits in her children and was infinitely proud of the adults they became and the contribution they continue to make in the world.

She taught me to be independent and free thinking. She took her love of beauty inside and outside the home and channeled her talent to create an incredibly successful business, Rice and Strand Interior Design.  She created hundreds of beautiful homes and businesses in Salt Lake City. She used her talent to bring loveliness into the world and to create beautiful spaces for people to enjoy.

My Gram taught me, through her example, to leave a beautiful legacy, to love all of those around me, to be fierce when needed but kind always. She taught me that everyone has their own path and to walk that path confidently without fear of the future or those around you. She taught me that there is always beauty in the world, you just have to open your eyes.

-Mandi Wilson

Each memory I have of my sweet Gram is bathed in a soft light of class, beauty, love and service to me, one of her "little chickadees" as she referred to her grandchildren.  When I was young and she lived across from Churchill Junior High we would take Whisper, my mom's Maltese, for a walk around the school and cross the skybridge that spans the freeway.  I loved that notion of doing something dangerous like being suspended over racing cars, but still kept safe by being with her on the bridge.

In high school my friends and I would go down to General Conference and lay on blankets on the lawn and listen to the words piped around Temple Square through speakers.  In between sessions we would walk up to her condo at Zion Summit where she would have lunch for us.  I loved going there to "show her off"—her beautifully decorated apartment high above the city, her simple lunch on either her sunny yellow dishes or her china with the pink flowers.  Who wouldn't want to take your friends and introduce this grand, classy lady as your grandma?

We always loved her condo, the view of the city and the capital.  She was asked by the governor to turn the lights on at dusk, you know.  We always knew that really wasn't true, but she also always knew right when they went on so who knows?  Her condo always smelled clean with a hint of dried flowers and plants.  We loved visiting with her on her white couches with the plumb pillows and throw blanket, or even better sitting at her piano (a treasure which now sits in my house) and listening to her sing and play from tattered books songs about the three little pigs.

Some years ago I had the opportunity to interview her for her written personal history.  I loved those Thursday afternoons with her as she shared with me stories of growing up with the family she adored, making a home life for her children and growing a business out of recognizing and growing her talents for classy and beautiful things.  Her heritage is full of strong family who believed in God, were given talents and strengths and beliefs  and also the ability to use these attributes to love those around us and find the beauty and grace in our world.  This is her gift to me, her legacy to all of us.

-Jeni Bennion