Christie Rice

Christie Ann Jagmin Rice passed away gracefully, as she lived, on January 17, 2020, in Golden Colorado, her home since 1986. She was 95 years of age. Christie was a beloved member of the Golden Pond Retirement Community where she shared her love of art, color, and fashion with fellow residents and staff alike.

Christie was born in 1924 in Detroit, Michigan to Theodore and Marion (Christie) Jagmin. She lived in the midwest most of her life, marrying Robert (“Bob”) Cushman Rice in 1945. Bob and Christie later moved to Ohio where she worked as a grade-school and art teacher and raised two daughters, Julia and Martha (“Marti”).

Christie had a generous and nurturing spirit: after Bob’s passing, she volunteered at a women's shelter in Findlay, Ohio, served as house mother for the Asher House at Texas A&M, helped raise her grandchildren (and later her great-grandchild), and was a dedicated member of the Christian Science Church. In the mid 1980s, she moved to Colorado to live near her daughter Julia and three granddaughters where she was a cherished and supportive part of their lives.

Trained as an artist, she pursued painting and sculpture and produced many pieces of fine art throughout her life. In her last years she was a featured artist in the Alzheimer Association: Memories in the Making program through Golden Pond. Christie loved traveling and visited places all over the world including Mexico, Argentina, England, Italy, Lithuania, and Japan – often painting scenes from her trips that served to illustrate the many wonderful stories she would tell about her trips. She was also an active tennis and bridge player, an avid gardener, and a compassionate friend with a wonderful sense of humor.

Along with her parents, Christie was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Cushman Rice, daughter Martha "Marti" (Rice) Stewart, and grandchildren Andrew Stewart and Jamie Bradburn. Christie is survived by her daughter Julia Rice Ellis (husband David), her grandchildren Sara Tucker (husband Matt), Christie Lagally, Robert Stewart (wife Melissa), Caitlin Stewart, and her great-granddaughter, Nicole Bradburn.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Golden Pond Retirement Home on February 2, 2020 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please make a donation to Laradon Hall Society for Exceptional Children and Adults or the Alzheimer’s Association Making Memories Program. Condolences or inquiries can be sent to christielagally@gmail.com. Christie Rice loved being surrounded by lots of color and flowers, so if you are comfortable, please consider dressing for the occasion in cheerful colors or floral patterns to celebrate her life.