Eleanor Lucille Douglas Rice

Elleanor “Ellie” Lucille Douglas Rice, 73, a resident of the McMinnville Memory Care Center community, passed away on February 8, 2026, in McMinnville, Oregon. Ellie was born on April 18, 1952, in Milford, Connecticut, the daughter of the late Jennie Isabelle (Orr) Douglas and James Lester Douglas. She grew up connected to Bridgewater and the New Milford area and later made Portland, Oregon, her home for most of her adult life. She attended John Pettibone Elementary School in New Milford (Class of 1963), Burnham Elementary School (Class of 1966), and New Milford High School (Class of 1970). Ellie earned a degree in Music from the University of Hartford, Hartt School of Music (Class of 1974), where her lifelong love of music was formally nurtured. Ellie met her husband, Kenneth “Ken” Marshal Rice, at a music summer camp retreat in 1991. They were married on May 1, 1993, in Portland, Oregon, and shared 29 years of marriage until Ken’s passing on January 29, 2023. Following their marriage, Ellie and Ken lived in Portland, where Ellie worked for Freightliner. In 2018, they moved to Marquis Care at Forest Grove. After Ken’s death, Ellie later transitioned to McMinnville Memory Care, a community better able to support her as she aged. Ellie and Ken shared a deep appreciation for music and the arts. Ellie wrote songs and poetry, sang, and played several instruments, including piano, tenor ukulele, and autoharp. Her favorite autoharp was lovingly hand-crafted for her by Ken in the early 2000s. Their shared love of folk music inspired them to travel throughout the country attending folk festivals and music camp retreats, and they frequently hosted house concerts in their Portland home. Their gatherings were filled with laughter, music, and community. The most beloved tradition was their Annual Christmas Carol sing-around-the-piano, which regularly welcomed 50 or more friends. They also cherished annual New Year’s retreats with friends from the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop community. One especially meaningful memory shared by family was being part of one of Ellie and Ken’s folk music gatherings—listening as Ellie gently played “Grandma’s Hands” on her autoharp, a moment that perfectly reflected her spirit and a life filled with gentle music, warmth, and connection. Among Ellie’s favorite travels were a cruise to Antarctica, where she marveled at glaciers, penguins, and seals, and a visit to Oaks Park, where seeing historic holiday steam engines felt, as she once said, like “stepping back 50 years into memories that weren’t hers.” She always viewed the world through a creative and reflective lens. Ellie is survived by her sister, Dr. Mary Douglas Singer; her niece, Jessica Lynn Ecker; and her nephew, Douglas Jacob Singer. She is also lovingly remembered and supported by her dear cousin, Lydia Haid; and by many members of her late husband’s family: her sisters-in-law, Mary Carr and Geri Collins; her nephews, Christopher Carr and Brian Rice; and her nieces Colleen Rice, Erica Collins and Nicole Prasher, all of whom held Ellie close in affection and care. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Marshal Rice (October 3, 1948 – January 29, 2023); her parents, Jennie Isabelle (Orr) Douglas (December 1, 1924 – January 14, 2019) and James Lester Douglas (March 14, 1917 – 1975); and her sister, Amy Jean Douglas (July 25, 1955 – July 18, 1981). Final arrangements are entrusted to Attrell’s Funeral Chapel.

Eleanor Lucille Douglas Rice

April 18, 1952 - February 8, 2026