Rice Lee Vanausdall Iii

Rice Lee VanAusdall III was born on December 22, 1993 in Jonesboro, Arkansas to Lee and Jill VanAusdall. Rice Lee walked into the loving arms of Jesus Christ on February 19, 2016, at the age of 22.
Rice Lee was truly one of a kind. God gave me a brother who had an immense love for others; he inspired me to be kind and love well. Rice Lee believed that even just a little bit of kindness and love could go a long way. He had a strong passion of wanting to help other people. His hope for the world was that everyone would learn to help each other, forgive each other, care for one another, and ultimately, put love at the center of our relationships. He made others feel significant; he wanted everyone to know that they matter.
Rice Lee recently came to know the Lord, and it was the most amazing thing to see someone who was already a wonderful, beautiful person be given an even deeper purpose and meaning in this world. I was so fortunate to have time to study the Bible and pray with him in the past couple of months, and I will treasure those moments of him revealing his beautiful heart to me for the rest of my life. He loved his friends and family and wanted to see them happy. He truly despised conflict and was a “people-pleaser” as some would say, willing to do anything for anyone. Right now, I can picture our grandmother, Dar, welcoming him into heaven with open arms and a huge smile on her face. Some of Rice Lee’s favorite things included music, books, learning and politics, to name a few. He felt that music had the power to change the world; that it had the ability to transport you to another world and give you the feeling of safety and peace. When he listened to music, it was like each note flowed through him and he had an experience that he wanted to share with others. Rice Lee also had a strong love for books, learning and politics. He felt that knowledge was something that should not be wasted and took every opportunity to read and learn. It is impossible to encompass the phenomenal person Rice Lee VanAusdall was in just a few paragraphs, but all I can say is that I am a better person because of him.
We will miss you, Rice Lee VanAusdall. Twenty-two years is just not long enough, but you are now in a place with no more suffering, no more tears, no more lies, no more hunger, no more darkness, no more evil; just Beauty and Joy and Peace and Unending Love.
Rice Lee was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Jack and Cleo (Dar) Lewis of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and Stevie Jean Henry of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Rice Lee is survived by his parents, Lee and Jill VanAusdall of Jonesboro, Arkansas; one sister, Jessica VanAusdall of Athens, Georgia; paternal grandparents, Rice and Carlena VanAusdall of Harrisburg, Arkansas; his aunts and uncles, Jack Lewis, Patricia Bell, Bill and Carla Latourette, Dave and Stacy Grundfest, Morris and Kim Mauney; his great-uncle, Jackie Houston, and his great-aunt, Bunny Randolph, as well as numerous cousins and friends. Pallbearers include Evan Lamb, Brandon Day, Cody Russell, Dave Grundfest IV, Drew Bell, Luke Latourette, John Bell, and Brad Lewis. Honorary pallbearers include Dave Grundfest III, Bill Latourette and Tanner Wilson. The visitation will be Friday, February 26, 2016 at Central Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Arkansas from 5:00-7:00 p.m. The funeral will be Saturday, February 27, 2016 at Central Baptist Church starting at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be at Jonesboro Memorial Park with Emerson Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.