The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

She was selected, by a vote of local citizens to be awarded the "volunteer" for 2014.

Rice was among a list of nine that had been nominated for the honor, and received almost a third of the total 182 votes.

Others nominated include Karen Depew, Emily Robinson, Earl Cole, Donna White, Fern Blaylock, Donna Shear, Bubba Egbert and Zekkethal "Val" Vargas-Thomas.

As this was being written, you could have found her at the Grand Coulee Dam Senior Center training to help people prepare their income tax, a job she volunteers for every year, and has since she retired from the post office 23 years ago.

When she isn't doing that or tending to her ranch responsibilities she can be found serving as a hospice volunteer, or working at her church and a host of other community functions.

Perhaps she is best known as a caring person who responds to the needs of other people.

"She is a beautiful person, inside and out," said neighbor JoAnn Ehlers, in a letter nominating Rice. Ehlers tells of the many times a week Kathy came over to comfort her and walk with Ehlers and her ill mother, sharing with her the history of the land, an act through which, "I felt my heart healing," Ehlers said.

She and her husband, Richard, are known for their environmental practices on their sprawling ranch along the Smith Lake Road.

The family has an airstrip just south of the house, and fly their plane from it for ranching and other purposes, but they also grant the use of their gravel runway to a number of radio controlled plane enthusiasts who needed a place to fly their hobby planes. The Rices heard of this and readily granted permission for them to do so.

A need and a nod, one of several attributable to the Rices.

Kathy for years has been treasurer for the Lions Club and takes care of their Spring Canyon Cemetery books. She sees it as a way to use her knack and knowledge of bookkeeping for a good cause.

Kathy has also been treasurer for the Methodist Women's Group of Washington, and it has been said of her that if you need any books audited, she's the one.

"She does a lot of this for her love of numbers," commented Diane Canady in her nomination letter. "Kathy is one of those gracious, warm hearted, and caring people that is always ready to help anyone that needs her help."

For years the 2014 volunteer of the year has been involved in both 4-H and Girl Scouts as a leader.

Another need and a nod from a person known by many as caring and kind, and always willing to help.