Joe Rivera, 78, passed away of natural causes on Wednesday, May 14, 2014 in Fresno, CA. Joe was born on April 16, 1936 in Fresno, CA to Margarita Alfaro-Rivera and Jesse Rivera. When Joe moved to Yuma, he worked for Southern Pacific Railroad, he also owned Rivera Trucking, and he worked as a Heavy Equipment Mechanic and Shop Foreman for Golden Y Growers and Arizona Groves.
Joe is survived by his wife, Mary Hortense Rivera of Yuma, AZ; son, Joe John Rivera of Yuma, AZ; daughters, Cecilia Zermeño of Yuma, AZ, Eloise Rivera of Soledad, CA, Maria Elena Rivera of San Luis, AZ, and Margarita Rivera of Fresno, CA; sisters, Margaret Espinoza, Natividad Lopez, and Carmen Correa-Arenas; 7 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his mother, Margarita Alfaro-Rivera; brother, Simon Correa; beloved son-in-law, Bobby Zermeño; brothers-in-law, Marcello Espinoza and Charles “Carlos” Lopez.
Scripture Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27, 2014 at Johnson Mortuary, 1415 S. 1st Avenue, Yuma. Final resting place will follow at Desert Lawn Memorial Park.
Pallbearers: Robert Trujillo, Rafael D. Silva, Isaac Leon, Rafael R. Silva, Arturo Correa, and Alberto Ramos. Honorary Pallbearers: Joe J. Rivera and Tim Espinoza.
Daddy,
We will always remember your special smile and caring heart. Always being there for all of us through good and difficult times. You never preached or scolded us but you taught us by example and you profoundly influenced us by your ethics. You celebrated our success and understood our problems. We hope you knew all along how much you truly meant to us. We were all blessed by your love. Your memory will live on in our hearts and we will celebrate your life. May God bless you and hold you in the palm of his hand. You will be greatly missed by everyone that knew you and loved you.
With Love,
Your Family
