Alexis "Lexi" Nicole RiceKnoxville, TNAlexis "Lexi" Nicole Rice, 34, passed away on January 30, 2017. Lexi was born on June 25, 1982 in Houston, Texas. She attended North Texas University, where she majored in early childhood development. When Lexi was sixteen, she met Tanner at summer camp. Their friendship turned into a sacred relationship when Lexi helped him recover from a near-fatal car crash. They married in 2003, in Seaside, Florida, started a family in Denton, Texas, and eventually grew roots in Knoxville, Tennessee. Lexi had a humble heart, which flowed from her personal relationship with Jesus as expressed in Ruth 1:16: "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay." Her friends and family were attracted to her wisdom, loving spirit and creative soul. Lexi shared these gifts in her role as a dance instructor, a volunteer at Providence Church, and in her service as a doula. But she took the most pride in her role as a mother and wife. Lexi home-schooled her four children, sewing seeds of love and creating unique bonds with each of them. And with a boundless heart, she cultivated a marriage full of hope and unwavering devotion. Lexi is survived by her husband, Tanner Rice; daughters, Avery, Caroline, Elena "Moochie"; son, Griffin "Griffy"; sisters, Meredith Patton and Mandy Russell; mother, Carol Hedrick; father, Jim Jenkinson; mother-in-law, Sally Rice; father-in-law, Nelson Rice; nephews, Carter, Sawyer, Perry; and nieces, Violet, Emma, Olivia and Canon.Visitation for family and friends will be on Saturday, February 4, 2017 from 12:00 to 3:00, with a service to follow at Providence Church at 1432 Lovell Road, Knoxville, TN. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Street Hope TN, a Knoxville-based organization dedicated to fighting domestic minor sex trafficking. Donations can also be made to support Tanner's family at www.gofundme.com/rice-family-fund. Gentry Griffey Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Rice family and invites you to view and sign their online guestbook at gentrygriffey.com