Harriann Rice Goldsmith

Harriann Rice Goldsmith, 91, a lifelong resident of Abilene, Texas, died Friday, May 23, 2014 at Hendrick Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, May 27, 2014 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Monday, May 26 at the funeral home. Born in Abilene, Texas on January 8, 1923, she was the daughter of Harry and Ann Rice. After earning a Bachelor’s degree from Abilene Christian College, she married Carroll Goldsmith on June 7, 1943 in San Diego, California, where he was serving in the U.S. Navy. There she, too, served her nation during World War II as a civilian naval employee. After the war ended, they returned to Abilene and established a home building business which they grew into H&G Construction, a general contracting firm. Over the next 40 years the company built many commercial facilities for churches and universities including Hardin-Simmons, Abilene Christian, and Texas A&M. One noteworthy event that happened soon after returning to Abilene was her being selected as the first woman called to serve on a jury in Taylor County. One of her fondest memories was serving as a Training Union Leader for the Abilene High School teenagers at University Baptist Church during the 1950’s and watching the youngsters grow up to become outstanding citizens throughout the city and state. In the years that followed, she opened her heart and lake home on Brownwood Lake to her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends and relatives where many great memories were made and relationships sealed. She was preceded in death by her father, Harry Leonard Rice; her mother, Sarah Ann Rice; her sisters, Imogene Taylor, Dorothy McClarty, Betty Collins, and Edith Spicer; and her daughter, Cynthia Ann Goldsmith. She is survived by her husband and best friend of 71 years, Carroll Goldsmith; a brother, Harry Rice; three sons, Randy, Stanley and Gary Goldsmith; and eight great-grandchildren. Her seven grandchildren will be pallbearers: Randa Caslani, Bryan Goldsmith, Greg Goldsmith, Alan Goldsmith, Haley Goldsmith, Katelyn Goldsmith, and Madelyn Goldsmith. Harriann Goldsmith was a member of the Pioneer Drive Baptist Church in Abilene.