Shirley A. Rice Hamer

By | November 15, 2019

Shirley A. Rice Hamer, age 83, of Wellston, went to God’s house to be reunited with family and friends on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019.  She was born Feb. 19, 1936 in Jackson, Ohio to the late Roy Lansing Rice and Freda Mae McNeal Rice. 

Shirley was a 1953 graduate of Wellston High School.  In her earlier years, she worked at the Atomic Plant in Piketon, Ohio.  Shirley retired from the Wellston City Schools, where she was employed for 27 years; first as a teacher’s aide at the Jr. High and High School, and then later as the secretary at Bundy Elementary, from where she retired.  Shirley was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Wellston, where she enjoyed singing in the choir.  Shirley loved to take walks and work with her flowers in the yard.  She also enjoyed adult coloring books, reading, working crossword puzzles, and she loved watching television and taking care of her cat, Prissy.  Shirley had an outward beauty that she kept throughout her life, which included her beautiful silver hair and long polished nails.

She is survived by her daughter, Julie Hamer of Wellston; three grandchildren, Aubrie Smallwood (Josh) of Portsmouth, Randi Jo Anderson (Tracy) of McArthur and Jim Hamer (Tiffany) of Frankfort; seven great-grandchildren, Cody, Dustin and Brady Anderson and Brandon, Zoe, Faith and Hope Hamer; sister-in-law, Evelyn Rice of Jackson; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Carroll and Dottie Hamer of Oklahoma; along with several nieces and nephews.  She will be highly missed by her grandpets who kept her company and protected her, Sadie, Sidney, Chase, Deuce, Bailey, Penny and Quincy.

Besides her parents, Shirley was preceded in death by her grandmother, Minnie Warren McNeal; son, Scott Randolph Hamer; brothers, Jerry Rice, Sr. and Paul Raymond Rice; and the father of her children, Curtis Hamer.  Julie wants to give a special thank you to Heartland Hospice of Jackson.  The staff of aides, nurses and everyone associated who helped get her through having her mother at home. 

At the family’s request, there will be no visitation or funeral service.  Shirley will be cremated and buried next to her parents in Ridgewood Cemetery in Wellston.  Condolences can be sent to the family at 156 Electric Park Road, Wellston, Ohio 45692.  Online condolences can be given to the family at www.mcwilliams-funeralhome.com.  Arrangements are under the direction of the McWilliams Funeral Home in Wellston.