Mary Lou Rice

Mary Lou Rice was born on August 25th, 1948 in Fort Scott, Kansas to Benjamin Floyd McCollum and Mary Magdalene (Carpenter) McCollum. She was part of a big family with her having 7 brothers and sisters. In the early years the family traveled a lot. This traveling would have them finally settling down in Stayton, Oregon where Mary graduated from Cascade High School in 1966. For many years Mary worked as a waitress at a restaurant in Gates, Oregon. After the loss of her husband Archie jack Hennen though, she became a stay at home mom to take care of the children. This was a fun but crazy time for the family. Mary would often want to go on spontaneous trips with the family. Like road trips back and forth to Mena,Arkansas to visit family sometimes staying for up to 7 years! Mary and her girls also made many trips to the.beach and also enjoyed visiting each of her brothers and sisters often all of which made many fond memories. Mary was considered very spiritual. She loved reading her bible and talking about Jesus. She had a soft spot in her heart for her girls' childhood friends taking them in thus making them feel accepted and loved especially Beth Elward who affectionatly still today refers to her as momma Mary. Even though she had a shy personality and was often not a “joiner”, she was kind to whoever she met and never wanted to put anyone out. She would often put aside her own discomfort if it meant being able to help those who were close to her in their own times of need right down to the end of her life. Mary passed away on November 24th, 2018 at her home in Stayton, Oregon surrounded by family. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Archie Jack Hennen,her-parents, Ben and Mary McCollum,sister Edith Threet,and one infant sister, brothers James and William McCollum. She is survived by her loving daughters Theresa Hennen, Shannon Albus of Stayton,Or and Michelle (Rice) King of Cottage Grove,Or and adopted at heart daughter Beth Elward of Toledo,Or granddaughter Tiffany Hennen of Mena,Ark 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren sisters Lucille Essman of Salem,Or and Shirley McCollum of Mena,Arkansas and brother Billy Wayne McCollum of Hubbard,Or and of course her little dog to, Dixie Bell. One night I dreamed a dream. As I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, One belonging to me and one to my Lord. After the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints. This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. "Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You'd walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me." He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you Never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you