Jackie Ray Rife, age 79 of Hernando, FL passed away July 23, 2023 at Citrus Memorial Hospital. Mr. Rife was born in Huntington, WV on July 20, 1944 to Ray L. and Ermalee (Bowen) Rife. He moved to Florida in 1973 from there. He was in the construction business for most of his life and was the owner operator of Jack Rife Construction which was the successor to Caldwell Construction. Prior to that, he was a construction superintendent for Smoak & White for 16 years. During his career, he supervised the construction of many commercial buildings as well as churches. To name a few: the new Bank of Inverness, Davis Funeral Home, schools and churches. At Kokolakis Cons. of Dunedin he rehabilitated the Tampa Cigar Factory and supervised an addition to Tampa Int’l Airport. Ultimately he had his own company Jack Rife Const. and built Citrus High School cafetorium and Love Honda Motor Sports. He was a member of the First Christian Church of Inverness. He served our country in the U.S. Air Force and completed a tour in Vietnam.
Those who cherish his memory are his wife of 60 years, Mary (Carroll) Rife; 2 children: Jacqueline Rife and her husband Glen Fair of Lynden WA and Cellynn Rife of Citrus Springs, FL; his brother and sister: Jeffrey Rife of Inverness and Dianna Rife of Tennessee; 4 grandchildren: Ryan, Adam, and Holly Pinney and Alexander Rife: and 5 great grandchildren. Jackie was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, John Rife.
There will be a Celebration of Life at the Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home in Inverness on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. The Rev Tom Thomas of the First Christian Church will officiate. Interment with military honors will follow at Florida National Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 10:00 AM until the service. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Cancer Society in Jackie’s honor.
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