Cammie R. Rice, 50 , of Columbia City, died at 6:38 p.m. Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne, where she was admitted on January 8, 2022.

Born on February 20, 1971, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, she was a daughter of Gary L. and Teresa A. (McBride) Cox. Growing up in Fort Wayne, she graduated from Homestead High School in 1989. She then attended Huntington University in Huntington.

On June 5, 1992, she married Ronald F. Rice. They made their first home in Fort Wayne, moving to Columbia City in 1992.

A communication professional, Cammie worked in customer services and sales at Comcast for 17 years, moving to Frontier Communications in 2008, where she was currently employed.

Enjoying the outdoors, she and her husband regularly kayaked the area lakes, with their favorite being Chain-O-Lakes State Park. While at the lake, she liked to sunbathe, swim, or fish. She could always light-up the room with her contagious laugh.  Considered by her family to be a free spirit, she found pleasure doing whatever fit her mood. Fiercely protective of her family, she was their confidant and best friend. Having an artistic flair, she started a jewelry business, Hearthealing Stone Jewelry, making bead necklaces that she sold at the local farmer's market.

Surviving is her loving husband, Ron; children, Kevin Rice of Fort Wayne, Taylor Rice and Anne Rice, both of Columbia City; sister, Lisa Knight of Fort Wayne; and her mother, Teresa Cox of Fort Wayne.

She was preceded in death by her father, Gary L. Cox.

The funeral service is 7 p.m. Monday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Visitation is 5 p.m. until the service Monday at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials are to the family.