- Date Of Birth: April 24, 1928
- Date Of Death: December 3, 2020
- State: Idaho
Joalys (McNulty) Rice joined her Lord and Savior in Heaven on December 3, 2020. She was a longtime resident of Spokane, Washington. She had just recently moved to Hagerman, Idaho to live in a small assisted living home near family. Over the last several weeks of her life she was fighting to overcome several infections. It was a blessing that at the time of her death she was being cared for by her granddaughter in her home.
Joalys was born at home in the town of Huntington, Indiana on April 24, 1928. She weighed only four pounds but was nourished by milk from an eye dropper and kept warm as she slept on a stove door. Perhaps this explains the great spunk and fight she exhibited throughout her life, even as she fought to overcome her infections at the end.
She was born into a family with three older brothers and a father who worked for the Erie Railroad. Her brothers were Donald, Bernard, and Mark McNulty all of whom proceeded her in death. Her mother died shortly after her first birthday and her father remarried shortly after that.
Joalys left home during her senior year in high school. She moved in with a friend, graduated high school, and had several odd jobs until she moved to Spokane to help her brother Donald and his wife with their three young boys. It was in Spokane where she met the love of her life – Clyde Eugene Rice, at a wedding dance in November of 1949. After a short courtship they married in February of 1950.
Joalys always put her family first. She enjoyed traveling, camping, and even fishing (as long as someone baited her hook). Throughout their marriage, she and Clyde enjoyed the companionship and good times shared with friends. Pinochle was a favorite game, and I’m sure by now several of them have reunited to play a few more hands. One could see the way she loved family by the way she doted on them. She would brag to all who would listen about her daughter, granddaughters, and great grandchildren. She had an endless amount of love to spread around.
Joalys is survived by her daughter – Rebecca (Rice) Madden and husband Patrick Madden; two granddaughters – Jessica (Madden) Knapp with husband Daniel Knapp, and Jennifer (Madden) Weiss with husband Leland Weiss. She had six great grandchildren – Josiah Knapp, Danica Knapp, Jonah Knapp, Joel Knapp, Jasper Knapp, and Joshua Weiss. In addition to immediate family there were many nieces and nephews who lovingly called her Aunt Jo.
Joalys will be missed, but the memory and spirit of the love she had will be with us always.
