Celebrating Lauri Ann Rice's Life

Lauri Ann Rice passed away peacefully in her sleep early Thursday morning, July 25, 2024.

I am Jack Freeman. Lauri and I spent almost 9 years together. She was my partner, my friend, my confidant, and a beautiful soul.

If you ever met Lauri, you would remember her. She was almost a force of nature. She was the kind of person who could take charge, pitch in, and get it done. And be loving and caring at the same time!

Lauri was such a giving person; a loving person who genuinely cared about how her close circle of friends each were doing. Lauri was a caretaker and an administrator, she was willing to do what it took to get the job done. She did for her family growing up, taking care of her younger brother, and making sure everything was as good as she could make it.

She and I were cut from the same cloth, we "grew up together" in different places. We shared experiences, memories, and dreams.

Lauri did not have insurance or savings, and the cost of granting her cremation wishes will be at least $7000 (unbelievable). Then, there is a lot of work to do sorting out her financial affairs, renting a truck, and clearing her storage room, not to mention clearing stuff out her mother's house in Blairsville, GA.

There will not be a "service" as such in the next few days. The family is too far-flung to be practical. She wanted a memorial get-together, where her friends could meet each other and share stories and memories of her. Anyone interested in exploring a Lauri Rice Celebration get-together, contact me or her brother (Darin Rice) and I'll get the word out. There are many ways to do a fitting memorial besides going to a funeral home.

I set the Go Fund Me goal at $10,000 to cover her cremation final expenses, legal fees, obtaining multiple death certificates, and taking care of her belongings.

Thanks for being her friend. Each of you brightened her world as much as she brightened ours.

Jack Freeman and Darin Rice